Despite starting Leicester City’s first English Championship match on Sunday and scoring in the Foxes’ EFL Cup victory midweek, Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi’s stay in England is just a matter of time. Although his effort to join former boss Brendan Rodgers failed owing to Glasgow Rangers’ unwillingness to pay Leicester City’s asking price, Turkey appears to be the next destination as Fernabache and Galatasaray are scrambling for the signature of the former Genk star.
Wilfred Ndidi, the Super Eagles midfielder, was once touted as a Premier League colossus, with Manchester United reportedly interested in signing him. However, things have fallen apart, and he is no longer the player we know. The 26-year-old defensive midfielder has struggled for form in recent seasons, with injury being the bane of his Leicester career. With the midfield enforcer dissatisfied with life in the English Championship, where Leicester was relegated last season, Ndidi may be looking for a new home in Turkey, where Fenerbahçe are vying for his signature alongside Galatasary.
According to Turkish daily newspaper Yeni Afak, the Yellow Canaries are in negotiations with the Leicester City player about joining the team. They have also reportedly bid €8 million plus bonuses to Leicester City for his services. According to the report, Ndidi has contacted compatriots Joseph Yobo and Emmanuel Emenike, who previously played for Fenerbahçe, about joining the club.
The Turkish team seek to bolster their midfield with the acquisition of the Nigerian and Bologna’s Nicolás Domínguez. If the transfer goes through, the 26-year-old will join his international teammate Bright Osayi-Samuel at the Turkish club. Ndidi has a year left on his contract with Leicester City and is willing to leave the King Power Stadium for new pastures following the Foxes’ relegation from the Premier League.
Ndidi, a midfielder, has been linked with Galatasaray as a replacement for Tottenham Hotspur’s Tanguy Ndombele, as well as an unnamed Saudi Arabian team. He played for Leicester City in their 2-1 Championship victory over Coventry City last Sunday and scored in their 2-0 EFL Cup win against Burton Albion on Wednesday.
However, new Foxes manager Enzo Maresca believes the club is willing to sell players who want to leave the King Power Stadium. Maresca responded: “It is difficult, when the market is open, anything can happen.”Currently, seven players’ contracts have expired, James Maddison has departed, and more players may leave. At the same time, players might quit to make room for newcomers. “The market is open, so anything may happen. We can bring in players and sell them. The market is long. There are several weeks, so we’ll see.
Ndidi was linked with leaving the club this summer after Leicester City were relegated to the Championship, seven years after winning the Premier League. The former Genk midfielder joined Leicester City in 2017 for £17 million when Ngolo Kante left for Chelsea. Despite having enormous boots to fill, he remained calm and completed the task for the Foxes. Ndidi may not have reached the heights of French midfielder Kante while playing for Leicester City, but he has made a good contribution to the club’s success.
According to Transfermarkt, Ndidi was the most valuable Nigerian player a year ago, costing €60 million, but his market value has since dropped dramatically. According to the research, Ndidi, who was valued at €60 million on June 15, 2022, has lost €35 million in market value and is now worth only €20 million, representing a 65 percent reduction in value over a year. The Leicester midfielder’s transfer market worth fell four straight times in September and November 2022, as well as March and June 2023.
His worth plummeted from €60 million to €50 million in September, €50 million to €40 million in November, and €40 million to €32 million in March, before falling to €20 million in the most recent Transfer Market update. He was voted the best tackler in his rookie season (2017/18), totaling 138 tackles, and was crowned Leicester City’s Young Player of the Year at the age of 21. The former KAA Genk star’s importance cannot be overstated, as he has nearly no equivalent in the English top division. He was constantly breaking up opposing plays and winning the ball back in critical areas of the field for his squad.
In the 2019/20 season, he shared the best tackler award with Manchester United’s right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. He made 129 successful tackles alongside Wan-Bissaka and nearly helped Leicester secure a Champions League qualification spot that season. He was offered as a solution to Manchester United’s defensive midfield crisis at the time, and he was also expected to join Real Madrid as a substitute for Casemiro.
Meanwhile, with Chelsea’s Cesare Casadei on a season-long loan at Leicester, Ndidi may struggle for a place alongside the Italian. Ordinarily, the arrival of a 20-year-old rookie should not concern a talented veteran like Ndidi, but circumstances have changed, as the 26-year-old defensive midfielder has struggled for form in recent seasons, with injuries being the bane of his Leicester career. Casadei’s arrival could cause some complications for Ndidi because he is a versatile player who can play as an attacking midfielder as well as in a holding role.
The Italian, who captained Italy’s Under-20 squad to second place at the World Cup, is also a two-footed player, which the Foxes manager would appreciate. While Casadei adds depth to the Foxes and has Championship experience, Ndidi has a tough struggle and will need to buckle up if he stays.
The presence of Casadei could also indicate that Leicester City intends to sell Ndidi, as his €91,000 salary may cause complications for the Foxes. It would not be surprise if Ndidi left the King Power Stadium, as Fernerbache and Galatasaray are vying for his signature.
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