West Ham agree €40m deal with Nice to sign Todibo

West Ham United are planning to hijack Juventus’ move for OGC Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Hammers have agreed a €40 million deal with Nice for the highly-rated French defender.

West Ham director of football Tim Steidten has flown to the French Riviera to finalise the transfer and schedule a medical for the 24-year-old as early as this morning.

The move is a blow to Juventus, who have been negotiating with Nice for weeks without reaching an agreement.

West Ham are desperate to bolster their defensive ranks after conceding 74 goals in the Premier League last season.

The signing of Max Kilman from Wolverhampton Wanderers was a significant step forward, but the Hammers have identified Todibo as the ideal partner for him.

The former Barcelona man enjoyed a stellar campaign with Nice, forming a formidable defensive partnership with Dante at the heart of defence.

Todibo helped Nice keep 14 clean sheets in 30 Ligue 1 appearances, winning 59% of all his duels. They had the second-best defence in the French top flight.

Apart from being a solid defender, he is equally impressive on the ball, recording 5.09 progressive passes and 1.09 progressive carries per match.

His ability to defend and contribute to build-up play has made him one of the most sought-after defenders in Europe.

If the deal is completed, Todibo will become West Ham’s second high-profile defensive signing of the summer as they look to challenge for European places this season.