Manchester United are apparently facing competition from Bayern Munich for the signature of Nice centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo.

The former Barcelona protege has quickly become one of the hottest defensive properties on the market, having played his part in an impressive nine Ligue 1 clean sheets this season.

Man United have long been regarded the leading contenders for his signature, and there is hope that new investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe - who also owns Nice - could help to facilitate a deal.

However, FootballTransfers claims that Bayern have also joined the race to sign Todibo, whose contract at the Allianz Riviera runs for another three-and-a-half-years until the summer of 2027.

A January move is not expected to materialise, especially with Bayern already bringing in Eric Dier this month, but an intense battle for Todibo's signature could materialise in the summer months.

Bayern's pursuit of Todibo could also have a knock-on effect on the future of Matthijs de Ligt, whose long-term future at the Allianz Arena is being called into question amid links with Man United.

Speaking of defenders going nowhere this month, Chelsea have reportedly ruled out the possibility of a loan exit for Alfie Gilchrist in the January window.

The 20-year-old - who has been with the Blues for a decade - has made his first-team breakthrough under Mauricio Pochettino, making five appearances in the 2023-24 campaign.

Gilchrist has come off the bench in each of Chelsea's last three Premier League fixtures, while he also made his first start for the club in their 4-0 FA Cup thrashing of Preston North End on January 6.

Gilchrist - who has played as a right-back during his earliest days in the first team - remains low down in the Blues pecking order, though, and there have been suggestions that he could now leave on loan in search of regular minutes.

However, the Evening Standard claims that Gilchrist is not one of the names Chelsea are prepared to sanction a temporary departure for due to injuries to Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella and Trevoh Chalobah.

Gilchrist's Stamford Bridge contract only has another 18 months left to run, although Chelsea can trigger a one-year extension to tie the defender down until the end of the 2025-26 season.

Over in the lucrative Saudi Pro League, Al Ettifaq are reportedly weighing up a move for Al-Ahli's Roberto Firmino after terminating the contract of his ex-Liverpool teammate Jordan Henderson.

After spending just six months in the Middle East, Henderson ended his controversial and ill-fated stint in Saudi Arabia to join Dutch giants Ajax, who confirmed his arrival on Thursday evening.

Al Ettifaq did not receive a single penny for Henderson's exit, but Steven Gerrard's side have now freed up a large chunk of their wage bill by letting the 33-year-old depart.

According to talkSPORT, Al Ettifaq are planning to use their extra monies to swoop for Firmino, who has also failed to make the desired impact in the Saudi Pro League so far.

The Brazil international has only registered three goals and two assists in 17 top-flight matches for his new club, with all three of those strikes coming on his Saudi Pro League debut against Al-Hazem in August.

Firmino has since failed to make the net bulge in 16 top-flight fixtures, and having lost his place in the first XI, Al-Ahli are supposedly open to loaning him out this month.

Another attacker enduring a disheartening goal drought, Borussia Dortmund's Giovanni Reyna is allegedly pining for an exit from the Signal Iduna Park this month.

The 21-year-old is without a goal or assist in 12 matches for Dortmund in the current campaign, and he has only made a Bundesliga starting lineup on one occasion in 2023-24.

Reyna has now been pushed further down Edin Terzic's attacking pecking order by Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho, while Chelsea-owned Ian Maatsen is another new option on the left flank.

The USA international is also alleged to be frustrated at being forced to play out wide rather than his preferred number 10 position, and according to ESPN - via Marca - he is hoping to secure a transfer elsewhere this month.

Spanish duo Real Sociedad and Sevilla are rumoured to be monitoring developments, and the report adds that Dortmund will let Reyna head elsewhere if their unspecified asking price is met.

Reyna joined Dortmund's academy from New York City in 2019 and has amassed 17 goals and 16 assists in 119 matches for BVB, but his deal only runs until 2025.