Man United board block move for defender

Manchester United face rivals Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday. 

The competition represents United’s final chance to win silverware this season, while Liverpool remain in contention to complete a remarkable quadruple.

Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag will be desperate to see his side progress into the last four, but the Reds will undoubtedly provide a stern test.

In the meantime, it appears that United’s new owners have blocked a move for one of their top transfer targets.

According to Football Insider, French side Nice could block a move from United for defender Jean-Clair Todibo.

Todibo has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford for several months now, and speculation was only heightened when Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS completed a part-takeover of the English club last month.

Todibo has been linked with a move to Manchester United

As they already own Nice, it had been suggested that United’s path to sign Todibo would be clearer, but the report instead claims that the French side could block the proposed move.

The central defender joined Nice from Spanish side Barcelona in the summer of 2021, having spent the previous six months on loan at the Ligue 1 side.

In total he has made 127 appearances for Nice across all competitions, scoring twice.

Despite United’s interest in Todibo, it is also claimed that Ten Hag’s preference at present would be to pursue a move for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, as the Dutchman would prefer a left-sided central defender.

Todibo’s current contract is set to expire at the end of the 2026/27 campaign, but it appears increasingly likely that he could depart the club prior to that date.