West Ham United head coach Graham Potter has a lot of work to do in the transfer market this summer.
A big squad overhaul is needed at the London Stadium, and Graham Potter is plotting a huge turnover of players at West Ham.
The current West Ham squad is a severely unbalanced one, whilst it’s the oldest in the Premier League as well.
However, Potter has had to make do with certain key players missing out through injury during his time at West Ham.
One of them in particular will be crucial to the Hammers moving forward.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
The Hammers head coach may well already have the new Virgil van Dijk at the London Stadium.
Jean-Clair Todibo is West Ham’s answer to Virgil van Dijk
The Hammers signed Jean-Clair Todibo on loan from Nice seven months ago, and he’s already been linked with a summer move away from the London Stadium to join Juventus.
West Ham have an obligation to buy Todibo for around £33 million at the end of this season (BBC).
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Potter has to ensure that the 25-year-old centre-back stays at the London Stadium beyond the end of the summer window.
The exceptional centre-back is just starting to show his unbelievable quality, and I’m noticing startling similarities between him and Van Dijk.
Liverpool signed Van Dijk from Southampton way back in January 2018 for around £75 million (BBC).
When the 33-year-old moved to Anfield, he was very similar in style and stature to what Todibo is now.
However, over the course of the next seven years, the Dutchman became arguably the best central defender in world football.
Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
And the Hammers defender has the ability and potential go down down exactly the same route.
Why Jean-Clair Todibo can be our Virgil van Dijk
His ability with the ball at his feet is completely unique to this current Hammers squad.
Todibo is sensationally cool and composed in possession, and that will be crucial in order for Potter’s system to flourish at West Ham.
Todibo’s stats in the Premier League this season prove that we have an exceptionally gifted player on our books.
Premier League Stats Jean-Clair Todibo
Appearances 19
Passes made 656
Pass completion rate 87.3%
Progressive passes total distance 3,488
Tackles 28
Interceptions 19
Blocks 18
Clearances 58
Aerial duels won 22
(Stats provided by FBREF)
The key for West Ham now will be to keep Todibo happy by matching his ambition.
The more he grows into life in the Premier League, the better he will become.
Jean-Clair Todibo is already showing signs that he’s getting up to speed with the intense, physical nature of English top flight football.
As he continues to grow, both mentally and physically, I’m convinced that he will become one of the very best centre-backs in Europe, if not the best.
West Ham may well have our very own Virgil van Dijk on our hands in the form of Jean-Clair Todibo.
Within the next two years, the Frenchman could be worth a similar amount to what Van Dijk joined Liverpool for.
It just remains to be seen whether or not the Hammers are able to keep him in East London.