Juventus clause update emerges as West Ham United steal a march on Jean-Clair Todibo
West Ham United were able to steal a march in the race for Jean-Clair Todibo after Juventus failed to agree on a sell-on clause wanted by Nice, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
John Albanese’s report [9 August] details that the Hammers have leapfrogged Juventus as favourites to complete a deal due to a hold-up in agreeing a resale clause.
Juventus have had an agreement in principle with Ligue 1 outfit Nice for the Frenchman, in which an initial loan fee of over £4m would be supplemented by a £25m transfer fee based on appearances made by Todibo rather than a Champions League qualification trigger.
However, the major obstacle has been that Nice want to retain a sell-on clause of 25% which has not been agreed by Juve, resulting in the Hammers snatching in by offering around £34m with a more attractive proposition to Nice.
Todibo could even undergo a medical in London on Friday according to the report, with a move potentially sealed before the weekend [Fabrizio Romano, 9 August].
West Ham show determination in market again
West Ham United’s recruitment drive, led by Tim Steidten, has been nothing if not bold – even when deals have not been immediately done.
The deal for Todibo had appeared dead in the water with the player seemingly preferring a switch to Juventus as much as the Turin giants wanted him.
But the dithering on a release clause has opened the field again for Steidten and the Irons, who are determined to secure their man having lost Kurt Zouma to Dubai-based Shabab Al-Ahli this week as Steidten flies to France to close a deal [Fabrizio Romano, 8 August].
This leaves only three senior centre-backs on the books, including Nayef Aguerd who the club have attempted to offload, only for wage demands to prove too much for interested suitors.
The Hammers are brazenly reshaping their squad as the Julen Lopetegui era gets underway, and full France international Todibo, at the age of 24, would undoubtedly prove an encouraging piece of business – particularly if they are beating off competition from clubs with the calibre of the Italian powerhouses.
In other West Ham news, the latest on Logan Costa from Toulouse.
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