The powerful midfielder has always attracted interest from other clubs, so it was surprising to see him remain in the East Midlands during the most recent transfer window, when the likes of James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, and Timothy Castagne, among others, all sought greener pastures.
Less shocking is the way in which he has begun this season for Leicester in the Championship.
He’s been playing in a slightly more advanced role than he’s been used to, in a midfield three alongside Harry Winks and Kieran Dewsbury-Hall, where he’s been able to push up and drive the ball forward when needed while also maintaining his industrious defensive qualities that allow the Foxes to break up play and take the sting out of games.
Make no mistake, Ndidi is a valuable asset both on and off the field- but how realistic their hopes of keeping him for the length of the current season are remains to be seen.
Barcelona, the Spanish juggernaut, is the latest big club to be linked with his signing, which is set to expire at the King Power Stadium next summer.
Of course, he may renew, but it’s apparent that more enticing, career-changing choices are on the table that might sway his decision – especially if Leicester’s promotion push falters.
They need to plan for every possibility, so we’ve determined the one winner and one loser if he does really leave the club in January.
Cesare Casadei was the winner.
It’s difficult to choose too many winners from a probable major player departure, but it could pay off for the Chelsea loanee.
Leicester have plenty of options in the middle of the park, so despite scoring on his debut against Cardiff City, the Italian youth international has only started one game thus far.
He’s an all-action midfielder in the mold of Ndidi, capable of contributing bite, tenacity, and energy to the central areas, as well as calmness on the ball and a genuine goal threat, as demonstrated in the recent under-20 World Cup.
With four goals and a silver medal in the Argentina tournament, Casadei appears to be the potential internal replacement for Ndidi, considering the heightened technical demands he’s encountered under Enzo Maresca.
Harry Winks is a loser.
On the other hand, if Ndidi quits, the Foxes will be losers all around – not a great position.
But one player who will suffer the most is Harry Winks, with whom he has formed a solid connection at the bedrock of Leicester’s midfield thus far.
Winks, a deep-lying operator in Maresca’s system, and Ndidi have complimented one other brilliantly, and it’s telling how strong Leicester have been in this part of the game.
Winks isn’t the most mobile player, and Ndidi’s agility can frequently compensate for him, while the ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder contributes considerably more in possession, creating an obvious and helpful balance.
Midfield pairings are indescribably important because games are often won or lost there, so if Ndidi leaves, Leicester will need to find an ideal replacement in order to continue getting the most out of Winks.
