Reliable journo: Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle battle for 23 y/o French defender

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Reliable journo: Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle battle for 23 y/o French defender

Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United are showing keen interest in signing Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo, as per journalist Jonathan Johnson.

The French football expert wrote for Caughtoffisde that the French defender is attracting a lot of interest from the three Premier League clubs, while French giants Paris Saint-Germain are also interested.

The 23-year-old moved to Barcelona at a very young age and has the experience of playing at an elite level.

He joined Nice in February 2021 on loan, with the French having the option to buy him permanently. He has been terrific for them, and there is a chance that he could leave next summer given that Nice are unlikely to have any European football next season.

Todibo has a contract at Nice until 2027, and any potential club will have to pay a hefty transfer fee to sign him.

Johnson says that any interested club would be in “quite a powerful negotiating position” in the summer because of Nice’s league position, and it will be very difficult for the French outfit to keep hold of their star players like Todibo and Khephren Thuram.

It is expected that the interest in Todibo will grow between now and the end of the season, and Johnson feels that he would benefit from staying in Ligue 1 a bit longer.

Jean-Clair Todibo – Premier League trio in the hunt

Todibo is a fantastic talent and there is a feeling that he is on the cusp of breaking into the French national team.

Unlike others, he has been a late bloomer, but his progress in the last two seasons has been remarkable. Even if he moves to the Premier League, he should join a club that will provide him the time to settle down and grow.

Liverpool will be looking to add one or two new defenders in the summer after a disappointing campaign. The likes of Nathaniel Phillips and Joel Matip could be allowed to leave, which will allow Jurgen Klopp to make new additions.

Likewise, Manchester United are likely to offload players like Eric Bailly and Phil Jones and there are suggestions that Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof could be sold as well. However, the takeover saga could have an impact on how they approach the transfer market.

Newcastle are expected to finish within the top four this season, and the Magpies will be able to attract top talents. They have conceded only 27 goals this season, the best record among top-four clubs, and Eddie Howe could look to add one more quality player at the back next summer.

Saikat Mandal

Founder of Sports Buffer. Master in mass communication from the University of Bedfordshire. Previously worked for Sportslens, HITC, and Breaking Media.

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The Bemused Reaction To Liverpool Decision To Play National Anthem At Anfield

This week’s Premier League games are set to be a strange set, with the coronation of King Charles affecting the schedule, and clubs formally asked to play the national anthem of ‘God Save The King’ to mark the occasion. Of course, when it comes to matters such as these, all eyes tend to dart to Anfield for the response of Liverpool.

With the club being based in a famously anti-establishment city, and the club’s fans taking pride in said identity, it was always likely that a move to play the national anthem as a mark of respect to the Royal Family could go down badly.

When Liverpool played in various cup games just last year at Wembley, the national anthem did not receive the most positive of reactions, with the FA Cup final in particular bringing a resounding chorus of boos for ‘God Save The Queen.’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7GxCrdNggA

With Liverpool confirming that they will indeed play ‘God Save The King’ before kick-off of their Premier League game against Brentford at Anfield on Saturday, the reaction from fans has been about what you would expect.

Liverpool: Fans react to club marking coronation weekend

The coronation of King Charles this weekend is set to wreak havoc with other major events in the UK, and the Premier League is one of the places its affect can be seen most visibly.

With the 12:30pm kick-off removed from the schedule to allow widespread coronation coverage, all afternoon and evening games will see the national anthem played at all Premier League grounds ahead of kick off – including at Anfield in Liverpool.

In hilarious fashion, the club confirmed that they would indeed play ‘God Save The King’ before kick-off at 5:30pm on Saturday – but there was little to no fanfare on a post on their website titled “Three events to be marked at Anfield”. Their statement on the coronation said:

Saturay marks the coronation of their Majesties the King and Queen Consort at Westminster Abbey. Just over a week ago, the Premier League contacted all home clubs and strongly suggested to mark this historic occasion across home matches this weekend and provided a list of activity for clubs to get involved in.

Before kick-off and in recognition of the Premier League’s request to mark the coronation, players and officials will congregate around the centre circle when the national anthem will be played. It is, of course, a personal choice how those at Anfield on Saturday mark this occasion and we know some supporters have strong views on it.

Needless to say, the club understand where many fans will sit on this debate.

Liverpool had already been planning two major pre-match ceremonies – a celebration of the city’s imminent hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest, and a celebration of the club’s LFC Foundation’s 20th anniversary – both of which have now had to be altered to accommodate the requests of the Premier League.

Even if Liverpool had hoped to avoid playing the anthem, there was not much that could be done to avoid it, with all home clubs in the Premier League expected to abide by the Premier League’s request.

In the replies to Liverpool’s tweet announcing the news, many fans had similar reactions.

Glad you’ve decided to play it, will be a fantastic watch with the booing 🤩

— Shea 🇮🇪🫡 (@bigsheabai) May 5, 2023

— DarDarBinks (@footyfiend1) May 5, 2023

Awful decision – it’s not wanted at Anfield & the inevitable booing will create a bad look for the club. Could’ve been avoided. That said if I was there I would also boo it.

— Óg 🇵🇸🇮🇪 (@johnnysalami74) May 5, 2023

“Some supporters have strong views on 

Love it!! 🤣😂🤣😂#YNWA pic.twitter.com/2ZGDj8g459

— Pearl Noir (@noir_pearl) May 5, 2023

fucking love that eurovision gets top billing over the coronation https://t.co/UhNt3J6svn pic.twitter.com/PtRtPGjhKV

— Belinder (@_bubblxs) May 5, 2023

They really said boo if you want babes we’re cool https://t.co/LuZqD2ONhF pic.twitter.com/oOK4vtGzPj

— Becky Taylor-Gill (@beckytaylorgill) May 5, 2023

Love how for the one earlier in the season it felt like they were wheeling out everybody to say don’t do it to the fa

Have you ever seen a more “we’ve been forced into making this decision” paragraph lol https://t.co/mm47cgxXoj pic.twitter.com/cpPvmRHch8

It will be intriguing to see the reactions of Premier League fans up and down the country as ‘God Save The King’ rings around grounds pre-match this weekend – and one would hazard a guess that more than a few Royal Family fanatics will have a keener eye on Liverpool than elsewher.

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Liverpool targeting ‘next Bruno Fernandes’ after making mystery Mac Allister bid

With Alexis Mac Allister on his way in the summer transfer window, Liverpool are looking to partner the Brighton midfielder with ‘the next Bruno Fernandes’.

Go fourth and prosper

‘It leaves United clinging on to fourth place and the final Champions League qualification spot’ – Mark Irwin, The Sun.

‘And defeat was such a bitter pill for Manchester United who might just be getting a bit twitchy about their top-four place… Liverpool are closing in’ – John Cross, Daily Mirror.

‘Now United’s Premier League season is in danger of collapsing at the final hurdle. Liverpool are breathing down their necks’ – Samuel Luckhurst, Manchester Evening News.

Man Utd remain four points ahead of Liverpool with a game in hand, and eight points clear of Brighton with the Seagulls having played a game more. Defeat was not ideal but they are still in firm control of fourth place.

You and me got a whole lot of history

There is a weird trend of trying to paint Brighton v Man Utd as a sort of grudge match.

‘The tackles were flying in, there is too much history between these two teams for there not to be an edge and yet it was Brighton’s raucous fans who deserved their celebrations at the end’ – John Cross, Daily Mirror.

Are we seriously going to pretend Alexis Mac Allister was fuelled by vengeful thoughts of the 1983 FA Cup final? Can there be ‘too much history between’ teams who have only played against each other 15 times in the last 30 years, and 31 times overall?

‘Brighton’s 4-0 win over United at the Amex Stadium a year ago ensured that the Lancashire club could not qualify for the Champions League so when it came to motivation, United were probably simmering the more ferociously and they started like a team on a mission, with Antony’s early effort only narrowly off target’ – Alyson Rudd, The Times.

Four players started both the 4-0 defeat and 1-0 loss. Man Utd even had a different manager. And they finished last season 13 points off fourth place, drawing one and losing four of their last six games. They weren’t qualifying for the Champions League whether they beat Brighton or not.

Plus the Seagulls ‘were probably simmering the more ferociously’, what with having lost the FA Cup semi-final to the same opponent 11 days prior.

Shaw thing

The Daily Mirror website know precisely what they’re doing with a headline of ‘Luke Shaw points finger at Man Utd team-mates over mistake that cost them at Brighton,’ considering it was very obviously his error which specifically cost them at Brighton.

They want clicks from incredulous Man Utd supporters furious at the idea that Shaw might have tried to shift the blame for the defeat.

And while the defender did declare that “we know the problem: the problem is we don’t score,” he also definitely said “it comes down to my mistake at the end” and “it’s disappointing I lost us a point”. So at least as many fingers were pointed in his own direction as elsewhere.

Messi business

So Man Utd are ‘clinging on’ but still very much on course for Champions League football. And Andy Dunn of the Daily Mirror knows just what to spend the subsequent windfall on.

‘Considering Manchester United are reported to have some sort of ‘Ronaldo Rule’ that will prevent any one player earning considerably more than anyone else, the chances of Lionel Messi rocking up at Old Trafford would appear to be slim and none,’ he says, rubbing two random sticks together in the forlorn hope of starting a transfer fire.

Do these ‘slim and none’ chances prevent Dunn from writing an entire article about how Man Utd should ‘move mountains’ to sign Messi? Absolutely not.

He concedes it is ‘wishful thinking’ and ‘the notion of a sporting romantic’, but Dunn wants ‘one last challenge’ for Messi at Old Trafford.

The case for the player is made, with mention of playing regular elite football ahead of the 2026 World Cup and how Messi would be able to prove he is still ‘a dominant force in European club football’ at Man Utd.

Whether that would be enough to tempt him not to make an emotional return to Barcelona or safeguard the next 427 generations of his family by moving to the Saudi Pro League is not made clear.

But why should Man Utd entertain any deal when, as Dunn says, ‘there are, quite clearly, many reasons’ they shouldn’t, ranging from uncertainty over the club’s ownership to recent difficulties integrating a mega star on mega money in his mid-30s?

Because ‘if they really do have claims to be the biggest club in the world’ then they have to pursue a ‘once-in-a-lifetime talent’ and sod the numerous ramifications.

Big club must be in running to sign big player because reasons. Andy Dunn for Man Utd sporting director.

We don’t talk about the next Bruno

How does one segue seamlessly from Messi to Bruno Fernandes? Ask Rio Ferdinand.

And, as it happens, the Daily Express website, who really are enjoying themselves with a headline of ‘Liverpool eyeing their own Bruno Fernandes to partner Mac Allister in revamped midfield’.

With unlimited guesses Mediawatch is confident that you, dear reader, would never guess who ‘the next Bruno Fernandes’ is. Not a chance.

It is, of course, Joao Palhinha. Someone 10 months younger than, just as Portuguese as and who plays a completely different role to the player he is a ‘next’ version of.

But apparently Palhinha ‘has had comparisons drawn with the Man Utd sensation’, to which absolutely no-one but the Daily Express website has been privy to. A quick search for “the next Bruno Fernandes” and Palhinha comes up with absolutely nothing because it isn’t a thing and never has been.

The best bit is that the entire story is based on a MailOnline exclusive from March 12. It took them 54 days to recycle that into this utter nonsense.

Mac the knife

Fair play to the Liverpool Echo for sticking this top of their website…

‘Liverpool news and transfers LIVE – Alexis Mac Allister bid, Antonio Rudiger links, new kit launch’

…and not once mentioning an actual Alexis Mac Allister bid. Because there hasn’t an Alexis Mac Allister bid.

Non sequitur of the day

‘Romeo left out of Brentford squad after sharing intimate snaps with girlfriend’ – The Sun website.

Beckham was indeed absent from Brentford B’s squad, and it was technically ‘after sharing intimate snaps with girlfriend’. But that very obviously had nothing to do with it considering he was ill.

Talent show

‘From signing Galaticos to Golden Boy nominees, Jude Bellingham is the latest example of a clear shift in Real Madrid’s transfer strategy under master talent-spotter Juni Calafat’ – MailOnline.

How indeed has this fella unearthed gems like Jude Bellingham?