Everton miss out on Barcelona defender Todibo

Everton have lost out on signing Barcelona centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo, with the Spanish club confirming that he has signed for Schalke on loan.

The Toffees were first credited with an interest in the 20-year old defender in December by Spanish outlet Sport, who claimed that Manchester United and Southampton were also in the running.

Sport claimed that Barcelona would likely either sell Todibo outright for around €20million with a buy-back clause, or that they would loan him out with the club in question possessing a permanent option.

Everton’s interest in the Barcelona defender was likely born out of the club’s desire to sign a new centre-back this month, with the club desperate to strengthen that position, having just three senior centre-backs to choose from.

Now that Todibo has agreed to join Schalke, Everton will be forced to look elsewhere as they continue their search for January recruits.

Read Everton Verdict

Todibo has played just twice in La Liga this season, playing a total of 77 minutes for the Catalan giants (WhoScored), and that doesn’t exactly portray the Frenchman as a signing that Everton absolutely needed to make.

Of course, for a young defender, it isn’t easy to earn minutes at such a big club with fantastic and world-class options in his position, but Everton would likely want someone more accustomed to regular first-team football to really enhance their squad.

As much success as Everton have had in dealing with Barcelona in the past, having signed Andre Gomes, Yerry Mina and Lucas Digne from the club in recent years, the Spanish club’s insistence on a buy-back clause isn’t an ideal situation for Everton, who lost Gerard Deulofeu perhaps too early due to that clause.

I’d rather Everton find a centre-back who, while also being younger and with room to grow, can add immediate quality to the club, having played regular senior football with experience under his belt. Someone like Nathan Ake, who Sky Sports claim Everton are interested in, would appeal to me much more than someone in the same vein as Todibo.