RB Leipzig is looking to replace Dayot Upamecano this summer. It has now identified defender Jean-Clair Todibo from Barcelona for this position, El Mundo Deportivo reports.
In January last year, Todibo only joined the Catalan giants, ending a long-running contractual dispute with the previous Toulouse club in Ligue 1.
The player joined Schalke on a short-term loan deal and a € 1.5 million fee, with the German side being able to make that permanent this summer, in a deal that would include a € 50 million buyback for Barca.
However, now everything has changed due to the coronavirus pandemic and economic impacts in football.
The Frenchman is on loan at Schalke’s Bundesliga rivals in Leipzig but they do not appear to be able to meet the €25 m valuation of the central defender and he is likely to be sold on a permanent basis this summer.
The 20-year-old has only been involved in four matches in La Liga throughout the calendar year – with two of his three starts coming up after last season’s league title was secured.
The news follows a report in Diario Sport that the Blaugrana view Todibo as a ‘gold mine’ amid strong interest from Everton, Southampton and Roma.
Roma are said to be hopeful of the signing due to the good relations between the respective club boards, following on from the signing of Carles Perez in January.
Bayer Leverkusen, Milan, Watford, and Monaco are other clubs said to be monitoring the situation.
