Manchester United are reported to be closing in on the signing of centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice.
According to a report in L'Equipe, Todibo's proposed move to Old Trafford is getting closer, with Man United expected to pay £34 million for his signature.
The transfer will be more bad news for Harry Maguire, with the England man set to be pushed further down the pecking order, if he ends up staying with the Red Devils this season.
Maguire is already behind Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof in Erik ten Hag's thinking, while full-back Luke Shaw is also regularly preferred to his Three Lions colleague at the heart of the Man United defence.
As well as that, Jonny Evans could still sign a one-year deal at the club, meaning that Maguire's playing time ahead of Euro 2024 could be next to nothing is he doesn't agree a deal with another club.
Jean-Clair Todibo holds unwanted record
As for Todibo, United would be signing a player who has excelled at Nice over the last three seasons. He is known for his ability on the ball, which would suit Ten Hag's style of play, and he should be able to slot in beside any of his potential United defensive partners.
However, if and when Todibo does leave France, he will do so with an unwanted record in his back pocket, which he secured during a Ligue 1 game against Angers last September.
Todibo was sent off just nine seconds into the game, meaning that he was on the receiving end of the earliest red card in the history of the French top flight, a record that is unlikely to be broken any time soon.
Ligue 1 have set a series of unwanted red-card records:
Todibo red card after 9 seconds
34 red cards this season, 43 in Ligue 2
11 red cards in one gameweek pic.twitter.com/JHj6uKX6lg— FootballChampions (@ChampionsTV_) September 19, 2022
Todibo's disciplinary issues
The sending off was the second that Todibo received in the opening eight games of the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season, and he only had to wait until October for his third dismissal of the campaign, in a Europa Conference League group stage defeat to FC Slovacko.
He then went the rest of the season without being given his marching orders, so it could be argued that he has learned a lesson or two.
Still, after United's mixed start to this season, the last thing they need is a defender missing multiple games through suspension.
See Also: Mary Earps Hits Back At Nike Statement As Jersey Controversy Rumbles On
