West Ham have now responded to new claims about defender Jean-Clair Todibo after Newcastle boss Eddie Howe ran background checks on the French defender.
The strange case of Jean-Clair Todibo at West Ham has grown ever more curious after the emergence of Newcastle United in the picture.
The men heading up recruitment at both West Ham and Newcastle haven’t lasted long.
Tim Steidten was sent packing by the Hammers after just 18 months back in January.
Paul Mitchell last week announced he is to leave Newcastle after less than 12 months.
Given the Steidten-shaped hole at the London Stadium, Mitchell was touted by some as a potential candidate to join West Ham as he leaves St James’ Park.
Mitchell wanted Newcastle to beat West Ham to Todibo
West Ham issued an emphatic response on the possibility of hiring Mitchell after his Newcastle exit.
It’s safe to say Mitchell won’t be replacing Steidten in east London as he joins the German in looking for a new job.
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Both men shared a common idea last summer that has since been held against them.
Steidten saw off competition from Juventus by jetting out to Nice to personally persuade Todibo to join West Ham last summer.
The former Barcelona flop arrived on loan with an obligation to buy for £32m – not £36m as reported elsewhere – which was triggered after five Premier League starts and on the basis of the Hammers staying up.
It has now emerged that Mitchell was also recommending Newcastle sign Todibo as an alternative to last summer’s top target Marc Guehi.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Todibo was arguably the star capture for West Ham as they were hailed for ‘winning the transfer window’ last summer.
But what followed was a season of frustration for Todibo and the Hammers which means the jury remains very much out on him and his future.
Todibo is good on the ball and in some games it’s easy to see why Barcelona signed him up as a younger player for a cool £20m.
But it’s often also all too clear why things didn’t work out for Todibo at the Camp Nou.
If his West Ham move had been based on completing five matches then Todibo’s future would still have been in the balance, so rarely has he managed 90 minutes.
West Ham respond to new Todibo claims after Howe’s Newcastle checks
The club’s majority owner David Sullivan was criticised by some fans for saying the Todibo deal has “hurt” West Ham back in January.
Hammers insider Sean Whetstone, who counts co-owner Sullivan as a close contact, recently claimed there are concerns over Todibo’s inability to last 90 minutes.
Whetstone also stated West Ham are looking to perform a ‘quick flip’ sale of Todibo this summer the moment his permanent move from Nice is activated.
Now West Ham have responded to new Todibo claims after Eddie Howe’s Newcastle checks.
Hammers legend Tony Gale labelled Todibo ‘lazy’ over his performance in the season-ending win at Ipswich.
It has since been claimed Howe ruled out Mitchell’s suggestion to sign Todibo after the results of background checks on his character. That has been described as a ‘bullet dodged’ by talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.
Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
Todibo has seen his attitude and fitness questioned this season, especially after a major falling out with Julen Lopetegui
He was reportedly among a group of five players demanding to leave if the Spaniard wasn’t sacked.
On hearing Newcastle snubbed a move for Todibo, Troy Deeney said he could see why watching West Ham’s win over Ipswich, labelling the Frenchman’s performance ‘a disgrace’.
Mail Sport has doubled down on the claims about PSR-hit West Ham wanting to sell the centre-back as soon as his move becomes permanent.
The report labels the situation Graham Potter finds himself in with Todibo as ‘ridiculous’ – highlighting the fact he was signed by a manager and technical director no longer at the club.
Hammers board set record straight on Todibo
“He is expected to be made available for sale as soon as the deal goes through,” the report claims.
Now the top spokesman for West Ham’s board has responded to claims the club are looking to sell Todibo this summer and the question marks over his attitude.
The response does not emphatically rule out flipping the defender.
But it suggests criticism of his attitude may be harsh.
It was put to the spokesman for West Ham’s owners whether Todibo could be sold on immediately given the PSR situation.
It was also put to the club that Newcastle boss Howe is alleged to have pulled the plug on a move due to concerns over his character.
“There have been no offers,” the spokesman for West Ham’s owners exclusively told Hammers News.
“But look Todibo might still turn out fine for us.
“Perhaps he has just been adapting to the Premier League.
“He had no real pre-season and there were some injuries too.”
Todibo himself seems content to remain at West Ham after posting on social media that he will be here next season.