Fabrizio Romano disclosed Tottenham Hotspur’s readiness to make a substantial bid for OGC Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo this transfer window.

Despite Todibo’s potential desire to join Tottenham, Romano highlighted the considerable challenge of securing the defender from Nice during January. Spurs had shown keen interest in Todibo, but the club shifted focus to pursuing Genoa’s Radu Dragusin due to Nice’s reluctance to sell Todibo.

Romano, speaking on The United Stand, acknowledged Tottenham’s willingness to invest significantly in Todibo. However, Nice stood firm, unwilling to entertain negotiations even for offers reaching 35 or 40 million euros.

Although Todibo seemed to be Tottenham’s preferred choice pre-January, Nice’s position aligns with their determination to retain key players amidst their pursuit of the Ligue 1 title, trailing league leaders PSG by just five points.

Todibo’s attributes, including his speed and aggressive defensive style, could have been a valuable addition for Spurs, particularly as competition for Romero. Nonetheless, with Nice unyielding in negotiations for the 23-year-old, Tottenham swiftly redirected their attention to other potential targets.

With Cristian Romero and Ben Davies sidelined, Ange Postecoglou faces a shortage of options in central defense, making the acquisition of a new center-back an urgent priority for the club.