Juventus Told To Raid Barcelona For Jean-Clair Todibo By Former Old Lady And Liverpool Star

Ex-Juventus and Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko has urged Juventus to swoop for Barcelona’s young prodigy Jean-Clair Todibo.

Todibo was signed by the Catalan giants on a free transfer from Toulouse last summer and has impressed on-loan at Bundesliga side Schalke. It remains to be seen whether the 20-year-old will form part of Quique Setién’s plans next season.

Juve are expected to see several players depart the Allianz Stadium this summer as part of a squad overhaul, as manager Maurizio Sarri looks to revamp his side ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.

Sissoko, 35, who made 100 appearances for the Old Lady, 87 in all competitions for Liverpool, and is now a presenter on Dubai-based Arab TV network, Al Arabiya, is understood to be a big fan of Todibo having watched him during his days with Toulouse. 

The former Mali international also opened up on the situation involving Miralem Pjanić who continues to be linked with a move to Barcelona, as part of a deal which would see Arthur head to Turin.

“We are talking about great footballers like Pjanic who could leave the club, but I think it is a bit early to talk about it also because nobody can know what the post-Covid-19 situation will be,” former Bianconeri midfielder Sissoko told TuttoJuve.

“Todibo? I read that he is also talked about, he is a good player who is doing well at Schalke 04 and could adapt well to Juventus.”

Todibo, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal, is not the only player on Sissoko’s lips but has also highlighted Victor Osimhen, Boubakary Soumaré and Idrissa Doumbia as players Sarri should be looking at.

“I really like Victor Osimhen of Lille, for me, that boy is very strong. He is a striker that we will continue to talk about in the next few years.

“While in midfield, I could recommend his team-mate Boubakary Soumaré and Idrissa Doumbia, who is doing very well at Sporting Club de Portugal.”

Osimhen, a 21-year-old Nigerian forward, is understood to be a key target for Tottenham Hotspur, who are understood to have made a bid worth $90million.

Meanwhile, Soumaré has many years to develop at 21, and could well be the enforcer Juve are looking for in the middle of their engine room, given the fact Blaise Matuidi is now 33. Strongly linked with a move to Newcastle, he has also been targetted by Liverpool, Manchester City, United and Chelsea.

Doumbia, on the other hand, is making waves in Portugal and Jürgen Klopp has previously been keeping tabs on the Ivorian midfielder, who was a standout performer when Sporting faced the Merseyside giants in pre-season last summer in the USA.

It remains to be seen how the Old Lady could line-up next summer. One things for sure, should they secure Todibo along with any of the other talented trio mentioned by Sissoko, they would certainly have some exciting young stars able to compete on all fronts.