West Ham is making another attempt to sign defender Jean-Clair Todibo, but they have a Liverpool player as a backup option if this move doesn’t pan out. Earlier this year, Todibo was linked with a potential transfer to Liverpool, but he ultimately chose to stay with Barcelona. Now, West Ham is leading the race for the French center-back.
Liverpool, who were previously interested in Todibo, are no longer in contention, largely due to UEFA blocking INEOS-run Nice from selling him to Manchester United, Liverpool’s rivals. This situation has opened the door for West Ham to make a £30 million offer for Todibo. However, Todibo has shown a preference for joining Juventus, despite their financial difficulties, which has caused complications.
West Ham’s technical director, Tim Steidten, who was previously linked with Liverpool, is now making a renewed effort to secure Todibo with an improved offer. Some West Ham fans are hopeful but skeptical about the potential U-turn from Todibo, given his previous rejection.
If the Todibo deal falls through, West Ham has a contingency plan involving Liverpool’s Joe Gomez. Reports indicate that Gomez is now open to leaving Liverpool after being used as a makeweight in a proposed offer to Newcastle for Anthony Gordon. West Ham has internally discussed the possibility of signing Gomez, who can play both as a center-back and a full-back. His homegrown status is an additional appeal for West Ham, especially as they aim to meet the Premier League’s quota for homegrown players.
Gomez, who is contracted with Liverpool until 2027, would require a significant fee, reportedly north of £30-35 million. This price point might be a sticking point for West Ham, particularly after their £40 million acquisition of Max Kilman. Nonetheless, West Ham is prepared to monitor Gomez’s situation at Liverpool closely in the coming weeks and may proceed if the terms are favorable.
