There is currently a tussle in Europe for the signature of Leicester City’s defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, as Manchester United and Everton are leading the chase for the 28-year-old Nigerian.
Leicester City were relegated back to the Championship after just one season, and it had some implications, as SoftFootball reported that Leicester are considering the appointment of Ene Rohl after Ruud van Nistelrooy was shown the exit door — and it looks like Wilfred Ndidi will also be heading toward the exit too.
For a team that had very few resources to make it in the English Premier League, Ndidi stood tall in that torrid campaign and gave a good account of himself. His £5m valuation by Leicester also makes him an easily affordable target.
Manchester United and Everton are not the only teams to have shown interest in the midfielder, with Juventus and Real Betis also in the mix. Real Betis joined the race after losing Johnny Cardoso to Atletico Madrid.
BBC reliably learnt that Ndidi has a £9m release clause, but Leicester are open to selling at just £5m. Also, the Nigerian international is looking to get away from the King Power Stadium, as he doesn’t fancy playing another season in the Championship.
Interestingly, sources close to SoftFootball also revealed transfer interest from the Middle East, as clubs like Al-Ahli, Al Nassr, and NEOM SC are interested in the underrated midfielder.
Where Ndidi will be playing next season is uncertain, but one thing is sure: he won’t be playing in the Championship with Leicester City if everything goes according to plan.
For Manchester United, they will be happy for some arrival news as they aim to strengthen the club further ahead of the new campaign, while Everton will be looking to add a powerhouse like Ndidi to their ranks.
With Ndidi, you’re not just getting a reliable defensive midfielder; you also have someone who can cover and play in central defence if needed.
Recall, Softfootball in a previous disclosed that Everton have reached an agreement in principle to sign Thierno Barry from Villarreal for an initial £28M after weeks of negotiations. Barry Villarreal’s contract includes a €40M release clause, but Everton pushed to lower it to €35M plus add-ons.
The France U21 international has been subject to enquiries from several Premier League clubs over the last six months, including the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion.
