Liverpool ahead of Manchester United in race to sign £52 million rated defender - Reports

Liverpool are reportedly ahead of Premier League rivals Manchester United in the race to sign Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo.

According to French outlet Nice-Matin, the Reds wish to secure a long-term replacement for an ageing Virgil van Dijk. The Dutch centre-half turns 33 this year but continues to play a prominent role in Jurgen Klopp's side. He's made 18 league appearances this season, bagging a goal and two assists.

However, the 24-year-old Todibo has no shortage of suitors in the winter transfer window. Along with the Manchester outfit, the aforementioned report claims that Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Paris Saint-Germain are all interested in signing him.

Nice are reportedly looking for £52 million to let go of Todibo in January.

Klopp's side may have an upper hand in this race, given the Ligue 1 defender's apparent relationship with Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate. The two France internationals are yet to partner with each other in defense for their nation but could do so at club level if Todibo arrives at Anfield.

The former Barcelona star has made 117 appearances for Nice across competitions, bagging two goals and an assist. He's yet to win a trophy in France.

However, a move to Liverpool would earn him the chance to compete for top honors. The Reds are currently atop the Premier League standings, three points clear of second-placed Aston Villa.

They are also in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and will participate in the knockout stages of the Europa League.

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Jamie Carragher names player Jurgen Klopp wanted at Liverpool instead of Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah (via Getty Images)

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, meanwhile, has said that Jurgen Klopp wanted to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt in place of current superstar Mohamed Salah back in 2017.

He said on The Overlap (via Empire of the Kop):

"A really interesting one is Mo Salah, and Jurgen Klopp has been quite open about this. He didn’t want to sign Mo Salah. He wanted to sign Julian Brandt – I think he was at Leverkusen at the time.

“You look at what Mo Salah has done. It can easily go the other way, but I do feel that this idea that a manager should just buy every player – I don’t think it’s right.”

However, the signing of the German midfielder failed to materialize. Instead, Salah arrived at Anfield for a reported fee of £36.9 million and took the Premier League by storm.

He has scored an incredible 204 goals for the Reds from 332 appearances across competitions, winning the Premier League and UEFA Champions League once each. Salah was also awarded the Golden Boot in the English top-flight on three occasions.