Here we don’t go: United turned down chance to sign Cup-winning midfielder this January – Fabrizio Romano

Manchester United had an opportunity to make a low‑cost midfield signing in Besiktas’ Wilfred Ndidi, yet they opted against it. Fabrizio Romano on Ndidi to United On his latest Here We Go podcast, Fabrizio Romano addressed the Ndidi‑to‑United speculation. Romano explained: “In terms of incomings, I can tell you that Wilfred Ndidi, former Leicester midfielder now at Besiktas, was offered as an opportunity to Man United. “A low‑cost option, the player was very keen on the move, but United decided immediately not to proceed. “They had the chance to do something like a low‑cost deal, but they chose against it.” Repercussions of the Ndidi decision In truth, both signing and not signing Ndidi carried logic. As was evident in the dramatic 3‑2 win over Fulham, Casemiro has no reliable substitute. Remove him and United’s midfield suddenly looks exposed. Should the Brazilian suffer an injury, the consequences could be catastrophic for the club’s top‑four ambitions. Ndidi, a proven midfield destroyer with a touch of technical elegance just like Casemiro, might have offered a capable alternative. Yet United passed, and there is little point in lamenting spilt milk. The hope now is that the current engine room can sustain the push until season’s end. A summer of midfield rebuild With no reinforcement in January, just like last summer, the 2026 window is shaping up as pivotal for United’s midfield overhaul. Quality signings are expected to bridge the noticeable quality gap, while the looming departure of Casemiro adds further urgency. Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson has already been earmarked as a priority target, while Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott have also been linked. Having resisted stop‑gap signings this winter, after shelving plans last summer, the Old Trafford faithful will hope the restraint proves worthwhile. It will only be justified if INEOS delivers a near-brand-new midfield, something they simply must. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Daniel Onguko Dan is a writer with The Peoples Person, an avid Manchester United fan whose passion for the Red Devils evolved into writing about them. He was introduced to United back in 2008, and his love for the club has continued to grow ever since. Like every other United fan, he believes the club will soon return to its rightful place and strives to reflect that belief in his writing. While he has also written about other Premier League sides, including Arsenal for Just Arsenal and The Arsenal Analysis Blogspot, Dan lives and breathes Manchester United.