Schalke: Another big team is interested in Jean-Clair Todibo
FC Schalke 04 have the opportunity to purchase Jean-Clair Todibo from FC Barcelona this summer, but they aren’t the only team with an eye on the French defender.
Jean-Clair Todibo has been everything FC Schalke 04 could have hoped for – and more. The FC Barcelona center back joined the Royal Blues on loan this winter, and Schalke have the option to buy him after the end of the 2019-2020 season. You know, whenever that is.
Of course, Barça gave themselves the option to buy Todibo back from Schalke, but given how much money they’d have to spend to keep him if the Royal Blues activated their own purchase option, it looks like a move to the Bundesliga is likely.
Todibo has increased his profile due to his strong performances in Germany’s top flight, which were welcome especially to the Royal Blues after another great young defender, Ozan Kabak, suffered a significant injury.
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His profile has increased so much, in fact, that another big club have their eyes on Todibo.
According to a report Tuttosport, via SempreInter.com’s Cammy Anderson, Todibo is one of the players Inter Milan are interested in receiving from FC Barcelona if La Blaugrana attempt to purchase star striker Lautaro Martinez.
The Argentina international looks likely to move this summer, with Barça being the favorites to sign Martinez to a nine-figure deal.
Rivals Real Madrid seem interested, but Barcelona seem like the logical landing spot.
Inter don’t want to receive spare parts or aging players from La Blaugrana, so they aren’t keen on obtaining center midfielders Arturo Vidal or former Schalke man Ivan Rakitic.
Instead, they want young players like Arthur, Carlos Alena, or, yes, Jean-Clair Todibo.
Out of those three names, Todibo is the least likely. Why? Well, because Schalke are going to sign him! Barcelona control Todibo’s future at an ultimate level, but this news that Inter wants Todibo actually benefits Schalke.
Aside from the fact that it’s always nice to see someone else value a player who is shining at your club, Schalke get a boost because Barça may be less likely to spend a significant chunk of money signing a player just to send them to Inter.
They can say, “Look, we’re not going to buy back Todibo just to send him your way. Be happy with what we have to offer, or good luck trying to sell Martinez for 100 million euros in total value with nobody else as interested in him.”
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Barcelona could buy back Todibo just to appease Inter if they are dead set on the player, but it’s unlikely they would do that. Inter would get less value in this case, since Barça would have had to go out of their way to give them a player. And as good as Todibo is, Inter likely won’t be this bold in an effort to pursue a center back.
Consider this as mildly positive news for Die Knappen but something to monitor. Just in case.