Barcelona were so desperate to sign Jean-Clair Todibo they paid a fee to deliver his move forward, even though signing a pre-contract arrangement already.
But this has been quite a while ago.
Todibo just left Barça, albeit briefly, in January to combine Schalke on loan for the remainder of the season.
But Barcelona should increase funds when they are to realise their dream of bringing Neymar back into the golf club.
Everton have a solid history of registering up the Catalans’ cast-offs. Now the Toffees seem just like raiding Barcelona once again in an attempt to strengthen their defensive choices.
Centre-back is now an issue for Everton. However, Michael Keane hasn’t replicated the kind that earned him a €25million change from Burnley in 2017. Everton attempted to signal Kurt Zouma after his loan spell last year but were obstructed in their attempts by Chelsea.
The 6ft 3in guardian has limited expertise. Ten Ligue 1 looks had been the sum total of his mature career with initial team Toulouse. But after only five fixtures, four of these in LaLiga, he was transferred to Schalke.
Already Todibo has captured the eye in Gelsenkirchen. He had been the club’s Player of the Month for March and, in just five appearances, he’s proven the assuredness and caliber Barcelona clearly believed they were becoming. Schalke have a €25million alternative but if they will find the chance to utilize it remains to be seen.
Given his relative absence of moments (268) earlier COVID-19 introduced the European season to a screeching stop, it is difficult to read a lot into Todibo’s data. What we can tell, however, is that the French youth worldwide is a very measured guardian who times his struggles nicely. He’s yet to concede a filthy when handling or shed a struggle while at Germany.
Unsurprisingly for somebody who had been courted by Barcelona, Todibo is exceptionally comfortable in possession. This typically manifests itself in one of two manners.
The prior Toulouse guardian has a nice selection of passing. We can observe that he frequently progresses the chunk.
We are not talking simple, side-to-side moves here. Todibo owns a superb selection and eyesight.
It is no surprise, then, that in his brief time with Schalke Todibo has averaged 74.89 moves per 90, finishing 65.82. Since registering January 15, no Schalke participant can better figure. Of these, Todibo performs more ahead moves (26.87) than some of his newest team-mates.
In addition to being a confident user of this chunk, Todibo is unafraid to advance to play himself. He wants no second invitation to push forward with the ball in case a much better alternative fails to exhibit itself and is amazingly portable for a player of his size.
In his time in the VELTINS-Arena, Todibo has averaged 2.01 take-ons each 90. That is more than another guardian, with the exclusion of Bastian Oczipka who simply edges out him with 2.75 each 90.
Schooled at Barcelona’s manners but quite a much surplus to requirements in the Camp Nou, Todibo would create the perfect improvement for Everton. And if he is half as effective as the trio of former Blaugrana flops in Goodison, he will be a hit.
