Barca, Juve plot summer transfer for Ndidi

Barca, Juve plots summer transfer for Ndidi

Leicester City midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi is being eyed by some of Europe's elite, including Barcelona and Juventus.

Leicester City may be fighting for automatic promotion but could be saying farewell to Nigerian international Wilfred Ndidi this summer, with his contract expiring.

Ndidi is a key player for the Foxes, who relinquished their grip on top spot in his absence recently, having taken four points from five league games not long ago, including a run of three successive defeats within that, meaning their lead at the top was completely eradicated.

The club had a 17-point gap to Leeds United at one stage, and although things remain in the hands of Enzo Maresca's side, will be concerned with both Leeds and Ipswich in such close proximity in the table and having suffered from a loss of form.

Promotion has been the aim all season, despite a number of Leicester's top players departing the King Power Stadium in the summer transfer window, with Harvey Barnes and James Maddison two players in particular who were tipped to leave the club.

However, the club also retained plenty of Premier League stars that had been a key part of some of their most successful ever sides in the top-flight, one of which was Ndidi.

The 27-year-old was signed from Belgian side Genk for a fee of around £17 million in 2017 and has just a matter of months remaining on his deal at Leicester, having made 267 appearances for the Foxes in that time.

His role has changed somewhat under Enzo Maresca, who has utilised Ndidi in a more advanced midfield role, but it has worked out, with the Nigerian impressing in the middle of the park.

In his first 24 games of the season, he scored four and collected a further six assists and established himself as a key player.

It has been a timely boost that Ndidi has returned to action recently for Leicester, helping them retake top spot with back-to-back wins, coupled with Maresca being short of options in midfield.

Turkish giant, Galatasaray is said to be hoping to capitalise on the midfielder's contract situation, while Premier League clubs are also reportedly interested in signing him, with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle, and Aston Villa all said to be keen on bringing Ndidi back to the top-flight.

Fresh reports have emerged linking him elsewhere, with Barcelona said to be keen to bolster its midfield options and Arsenal star, Jorginho is among its top targets, along with Leicester's Ndidi.

Mundo Deportivo is reporting that Barcelona's own financial issues mean that will have very little funds to spend this summer unless it part ways with several players.

The report also states that Juventus recently scouted him during the FA Cup clash against Chelsea last month, which was Ndidi's return to the starting lineup post-injury.

Ndidi has a huge presence in midfield, and is capable of impacting a game in all three thirds of the pitch, with his destructive capabilities aiding them defensively, and his output in the final third has been better than ever this term.