Leicester City and Nigeria midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has emerged as a key summer target for Atletico Madrid and Real Betis, with AS Monaco also showing strong interest in securing his signature, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 28-year-old, who has been a crucial part of Leicester’s squad in recent years, is expected to leave the club at the end of the season despite signing a new contract last summer.
Atletico Madrid, in particular, are keen to reinforce their midfield as they look to find a long-term replacement for club captain Koke Resurrección, who is entering the latter stages of his career. The anticipated departure of Thomas Lemar has also increased the urgency for reinforcements at the Metropolitano.
Atleti’s sporting department has been actively scouting midfielders over the past few months, with Mallorca’s Samu Costa among the names on their shortlist.
However, Ndidi’s ability to break up play and provide defensive stability has made him a serious candidate for the role, according to a report by CaughtOffside.
The Super Eagles star is not new to interest from Spanish clubs with Barcelona preciously linked with his services but no concrete moves followed.
Atletico are not alone in their pursuit of Ndidi.
Fellow La Liga side Real Betis are also in the market for a defensive midfielder, with reports suggesting they are preparing for the departure of Johnny Cardoso, who is linked with a summer switch to Tottenham Hotspur.
Meanwhile, Ligue 1 side AS Monaco have been tracking Ndidi for some time and reportedly made a £20 million bid for him during the winter transfer window. That offer, which included an obligation to buy and additional performance-based payments, was turned down by Leicester, who opted to keep the midfielder as they push to retain their Premier League status.
Despite Leicester’s stance in January, it is widely expected that Ndidi will depart in the summer, with all three clubs preparing fresh approaches.
Ndidi has endured a stop-start campaign due to injury, with a hamstring problem limiting his involvement earlier in the season. However, he has recently regained fitness and is beginning to feature more regularly under Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Since joining Leicester in 2017 from Genk, Ndidi has been a vital cog in the Foxes’ midfield, making 208 Premier League appearances.
He played a crucial role in their historic FA Cup triumph in the 2020/21 season and was instrumental in their Championship-winning campaign last term, contributing four goals and five assists in 32 matches.
Although his playing time has been somewhat restricted this season, Leicester still value his experience and leadership, which made them reluctant to sell in January.
However, with his contract running until 2027, the club could demand a substantial fee should they decide to cash in during the upcoming transfer window.
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