talkSPORT pundit touts Wilfred Ndidi for Manchester United switch

Leicester City’s Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is being talked up for a transfer to Old Trafford ahead of the launch of the new 2021/22 English Premier League (EPL) season. Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær is known to be focused on adding a new defensively minded midfielder to the Red Devils’ ranks before the close of the summer transfer window.

talkSPORT pundit and former England international striker Darren Bent believes Ndidi fits the bill perfectly for United – or indeed “any club in the Premier League”.

The 24-year-old has been nothing short of a revelation for Leicester, since joining from Belgian side Genk in a £17m deal back in January 2017.

With 146 competitive appearances for the Foxes, Ndidi has been a virtual ever-present in the side.

He’s proven to be a more than adequate replacement for N’Golo Kante, who was lured to Chelsea following Leicester’s remarkable title-winning season.

Although the Foxes were desperately unlucky not to finish in the Champions League places in the 2020/21 EPL campaign, Rodgers will be keen to go one better in 2021/22.

Weakening his squad by selling Ndidi would surely not enter into this equation. Leicester are joint-sixth favourites to finish in the top four this year, with bet365 pricing them alongside Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal who are tipped to improve on their eighth place finish last term.

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The issue Leicester and Rodgers may have if Solskjær comes calling for Ndidi is the lure of playing in that Manchester United jersey. United have been linked with a string of midfielders already in this summer’s transfer window.

West Ham and England holding midfielder Declan Rice is one that excites many United fans, but the deal could prove too rich for United this summer having already forked out for Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane. Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez has been touted around most of Europe’s top clubs, including United, while Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves is another said to be on the Red Devils’ radar.

Ndidi could be a somewhat less expensive deal to negotiate with Leicester than for West Ham’s Declan Rice, despite the Nigerian’s contract running until the summer of 2024.

The usually reliable Transfermarkt defines Ndidi’s market value as £54m. His £3.9m-a-year salary at the King Power Stadium would also require improving too, to tempt Ndidi to Old Trafford. talkSPORT pundit Darren Bent thinks it would be money well spent by the United hierarchy.

Bent said that Ndidi could get into “pretty much any team in the Premier League” in the holding midfield position.

Bent waxed lyrical about the way Ndidi “covers the back four well”. It’s that midfield screening role that United so desperately need to unleash the likes of Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes going forward.

Bent also likes the streetwise nature of Ndidi’s play, with his willingness to commit “some sneaky fouls” when he has to. Bent added that when you combine the fact that he is “good in possession” he is perplexed as to why “no one really has come for him [yet]”.

Ndidi was part of the Leicester City side that won the 2021/22 season curtain raiser, overcoming Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Community Shield.

The Foxes’ midfield triumvirate of Ndidi, Tielemans and Maddison continues to purr, with the ever-willing Jamie Vardy continuing to provide a fast, attacking outlet supported by Harvey Barnes and Ayose Perez from the flanks.

2020/21 EPL champions Manchester City were restricted to just three shots on target at Wembley, despite having considerably more possession than Leicester.

Ndidi was rated Leicester’s third best performer in BBC Sport’s post-match ratings, with compatriot Kelechi Iheanacho taking the man-of-the-match honours after scoring the 89th minute winner.