Steve Cooper gave Leicester City a boost, as the £75k-a-week ‘fighter’ is now’set to sign’ a new contract.
Leicester City has secured the future of a midfielder who can help Steve Cooper’s aspirations. Steve Cooper has faced a difficult task in replacing midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall after joining Chelsea alongside former Foxes manager Enzo Maresca. Cooper has been proactive in attempting to replace the guy who was so important at the King Power Stadium last season, scoring 26 goals in the Championship. Leicester City has expressed interest in Celtic and Danish midfielder Matt O’Riley, who fits the Dewsbury-Hall model.
Cooper is also interested in free agent Callum O’Hare, who was released by Coventry City, and Argentinian forward Matias Soule. Leicester City’s midfield once appeared to be utterly disintegrated, but one major person in the middle of the pitch has committed his future to the club, much to Cooper’s relief. Leicester City player Wilfred Ndidi is expected to sign a £75k-per-week contract to continue at the club. According to Fabrizio Romano on X, Nigerian international Wilfred Ndidi has agreed to sign a three-year contract at the King Power Stadium. Ndidi has also decided to stay with the club ‘despite more than five proposals’ from rival clubs.
The midfielder, previously dubbed a ‘fighter’ by Premier League winning boss Claudio Ranieri, will reportedly earn £75k a week for the upcoming Premier League season. Cooper will have Premier League experience on his side for the 2024/25 season, as the 27-year-old has played nearly 200 Premier League appearances for Leicester City since signing in January 2017. Ndidi also played an important role in Maresca’s 2023/24 Championship season, contributing nine goals.
How Wilfred Ndidi’s tenure at Leicester City will bring out the best in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s replacement Dewsbury-Hall enjoyed a tremendous 2023/24 Championship season, scoring 12 goals, but this would not have been possible without the important role that Ndidi played in the team. The 27-year-old midfielder played a little more offensive role than usual, but sat significantly deeper beside Harry Winks, allowing Dewsbury-Hall to go forward. With Cooper poised to play a similar 4-3-3 formation as Maresca, Ndidi will most likely play alongside whoever Leicester City signs to replace Dewsbury-Hall.
If O’Riley signs with Leicester City, for example, not having Ndidi provide protection in the middle of the pitch will limit the Danish international’s ability to push further forward and loiter outside the box when attacking. The Nigerian’s defensive assurance has been critical for Leicester City over the years, and the midfielder committing his future to the club will be a huge relief to Cooper, who will now be able to provide a midfielder with the attacking freedom required alongside Ndidi and Winks.
