One player who has been consistently linked with a move to Manchester United has now been directly asked if he is going to join.

United’s new bosses have a lot on their plate this summer, and it’s not just the future of Erik ten Hag that they need to solve.

A squad overhaul is needed at Old Trafford, one that has already been accelerated by the announced departures of Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial.

Both will surely need to be replaced, and if reports are to be believed, United won’t be splashing the cash – they’ll instead be careful with their Profit and Sustainability limits.

But given the other United names also linked with an exit, the likes of Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and more, the club’s wage bill could look a lot healthier.

Whether that’s enough to fund a move for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, a player the club are interested in, remains to be seen.

But if United are looking for cheaper, but not necessarily worse alternatives, perhaps Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo, another player long-admired by the club, could be the answer.

Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo refuses to comment on possibility of joining Man United

United will need to replace Varane, finding a partner for Lisandro Martinez, who will hopefully enjoy a less injury-ridden season next time out.

Nice’s Todibo appears a strong candidate for the job, a player known well by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his colleagues given INEOS’ involvement in both clubs.

And in an interview with Mail Sport, Todibo has actually just been asked if he would consider a move to United.

And although fans might not be too thrilled by his diplomatic answer, United would clearly be buying a player well media-trained should a deal progress.

Asked if a United move awaits, Todibo jovially replied: “I’m going to keep that for me! Nice try.”

And although that’s hardly a ‘come and get me plea’ the defender certainly didn’t rule the possibility out.

Todibo is thought to cost interested clubs around £40m this summer, explaining why he could be a more cost-effective alternative to Branthwaite.

And given the strides Todibo has made in Ligue 1, a deal at that price could be considered something of a bargain for Manchester United.

That being said, Wayne Rooney might suggest that another aspect of United’s squad needs improving first.