Manchester United are considering Wilfred Ndidi as a target this summer but will face competition from Everton for the Leicester City midfielder, according to a report.
Ndidi, 28, has a £9 million relegation clause in contract at the King Power Stadium which is active this summer after the Foxes’ return to the Championship last season.
Ruben Amorim has requested an athletic midfielder to buttress the centre of the pitch with concerns over the mobility of Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, and Kobbie Mainoo.
Christian Eriksen will leave Old Trafford this month as his contract has expired while youngster Toby Collyer may go on loan in the search of more first-team opportunities.
But the bulk of United’s budget is set to be directed towards the misfiring forward line with only four Premier League sides scoring fewer goals than Amorim’s last season – Everton and the three relegated teams, Leicester, Ipswich Town and Southampton.
A £62.5 million deal has already been agreed for Matheus Cunha (Wolverhampton Wanderers) while negotiations are ongoing for Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) at a similar price point.
A new number nine is also considered an urgent priority with the striker partnership of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee combining for just seven league goals last year. Playing alongside Ndidi, 38-year-old Jamie Vardy scored nine for relegated Leicester by comparison.
This emphasis on securing attacking talent leaves little room for investment elsewhere on the pitch, however. And it’s this prioritisation which has lead United to express interest in Ndidi and his cheap release clause.
But The Guardian reveals Everton are in the hunt for the Nigeria international while there is also interest from Saudi Arabia.
Ndidi possesses a wealth of experience in the Premier League and has often been linked with a move to a bigger club in the division.
At 28, he is still young enough to be a longer-term option, while his price is affordable and wages will not be an issue. He will not pose a problem as a squad option in the way more expensive targets may.
It is not a glamorous signing. It is not an exciting one. But, within the context of a limited budget and a host of different areas needing attention, Ndidi could prove an astute purchase, as long as David Moyes does not get there first.
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
