Wilfred Ndidi may leave Leicester this summer, so here are three potential replacements to watch. Leicester City has a busy summer ahead of them. The Foxes were quite dominant in the Championship this season under Enzo Maresca, and they won the title for the first time after being relegated from the Premier League unexpectedly. Preparations for a return to top tier football are currently beginning, but the club will most likely be led by a new manager next season. Maresca has been a popular topic of debate in the last week or two, and it now appears that he will be appointed Chelsea manager following the dismissal of Mauricio Pochettino.
This leaves Leicester with the difficult task of choosing the right man to lead them ahead into the upcoming season as they strive to re-establish themselves in the Premier League. The new manager must prepare the first-team squad for a return to the top division and ensure that they can avoid relegation, but it appears that they will do so without one of their longest-serving players.
Wilfred Ndidi, a central midfielder, will become a free agent in the coming weeks when his contract expires, allowing clubs to sign him on a free transfer. Lyon are thought to be the club most interested in the 27-year-old, but the Foxes must find a successor, which will be a difficult challenge. To make it even more difficult, Leicester must exercise caution during the summer transfer window after being charged with violating the Premier League’s profit and sustainability guidelines. According to the Daily Mail, the Foxes are free to sign players this summer despite being under a transfer embargo, but must sell players to avoid being punished again.
As a result, Leicester will be unable to spend significantly on a Ndidi replacement, especially after losing him on free. With that in mind, Football League World recommends three plausible Ndidi alternatives for the club to explore this summer. Gustavo Hamer Gustavo Hamer’s value is expected to fall as a result of Sheffield United’s relegation from the Premier League, making him a viable summer acquisition for Leicester City.
The 26-year-old joined Bramall Lane last summer and has since emerged as one of the club’s few bright spots, scoring four goals and assisting six in the Premier League. Following his side’s relegation, Hamer is clearly deserving of another Premier League season, and joining one of the newly promoted teams, such as Leicester, would make sense. Despite lacking Ndidi’s height in midfield, he would more than compensate with his precise dribbling and creative skills. If the Foxes keep Harry Winks as their lone defensive midfielder, with Hamer and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall right in front of him, they will have a very intriguing midfield trio heading into next season.
The Dutchman has only one season of Premier League experience, but he thrived for a struggling Sheffield United team, so he is more than capable of jumping into Leicester’s midfield. Ben Sheaf Coventry’s Ben Sheaf is another player whose worth should be kept in check by Leicester given his Championship classification. This season, the defensive midfielder has grown by leaps and bounds and has really shone out when it counted the most for the Sky Blues.
Sheaf captained Coventry City on several occasions this season, including the memorable FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium. The 26-year-old possesses all of the defensive and passing abilities that Leicester would lose with Ndidi’s exit, making him an excellent like-for-like replacement. Sheaf began his career at Arsenal, but he has since established himself in the EFL and is now ready for his first return to the Premier League. Leicester appears to be the ideal destination for him, as it will not be a significant change in location, and his value should be sufficient for the Foxes, given the suspected breaches of Profit and Sustainability laws.
Tyler Morton Tyler Morton may be seeking for another loan move from Liverpool next season to continue his development, and a low-level Premier League club appears to be the best fit for him. The teenage midfielder has spent the previous two seasons earning crucial Championship experience with Blackburn Rovers and Hull City. This season, under Liam Rosenior, he established himself as a solid midfielder, scoring three league goals and assisting five others. Morton is an excellent passer of the ball and will attempt to give stability in front of the defense.
The 21-year-old is unlikely to make Liverpool’s first-team squad next season, but he has done enough to earn some Premier League playing time, so a loan move to a side like Leicester would be ideal. Furthermore, Leicester would be anxious for a solid loan move this summer, given they are unable to invest heavily.
