RB Leipzig has identified defender Jean-Clair Todibo from Barcelona to replace their own Dayot Upamecano this summer, El Mundo Deportivo reports.
This news follows on from 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.
Everything has changed due to the coronavirus pandemic now and there are corresponding 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 player joined Schalke in January 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.
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.
In January last year, Todibo joined the Catalan giants, ending a long-running contractual dispute with the previous Toulouse club in Ligue 1.
