Everton remain favourites to sign Jean-Clair Todibo from Barcelona this summer, per Sport via Sport Witness.
The defender has spent the second half of the season on loan at Bundesliga side Schalke, moving to Germany in the January transfer window.
Todibo has played eight times in the German top-flight and the report states that Barca have decided to cash in on the 20-year-old in the summer transfer window.
They would like to sell him before the end of the month and Everton are said to be in pole position to potentially secure his signature.
Todibo is keen on a move to the Premier League and Carlo Ancelotti’s side are weighing up an offer worth up to €22 million (£19.5m).
GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…
This would be an interesting move from Everton.
When Schalke agreed their loan deal for Todibo, manager David Wagner hailed the youngster as “one of the best young central defenders in Europe”, via their official website.
Everton have Michael Keane, Yerry Mina, and Mason Holgate as their senior centre-back options and one has to feel that further reinforcements are needed in defence.
Bringing in a player like Todibo would go a long way to helping with the lack of depth and adding some major potential to the backline.
Ancelotti would not necessarily need to give the youngster over 30 games per season, and he could develop under the Italian’s tutelage.
A move at £19.5m is relatively cheap in the current market and, given his billing, it could be a bargain.