September 15, (THEWILL) – Wilfred Ndidi, the stand-in captain for Nigeria’s Super Eagles, will not be leaving Leicester City before the transfer deadline despite interest from Turkish club, Fenerbahce.
The defensive midfielder had been linked with a last minute move to join the Istanbul giants. However, Foxes manager, Enzo Maresca, sees Ndidi as indispensable and integral to his squad, as he aims to guide the 2016 English Premier League winners back to the top flight following their relegation last season.
With the mandate to secure promotion, selling Ndidi without lining up a replacement would not align with the club’s aims this campaign. Meanwhile, European teams are typically wary of acquiring too many African players ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament each January. With Nigeria expected to call on Ndidi’s services, his absence could prove problematic.
The 25-year-old has already started the majority of Leicester’s Championship matches this term, indicating he remains firmly in manager Maresca’s plans. Ndidi has also featured in the club’s League Cup run, scoring twice, further underscoring his importance to the squad.
Now in the final year of his contract, Ndidi originally signed for Leicester from Belgian side Racing Genk in January 2017. With the transfer window closing on Friday, Leicester have moved to end speculation and confirm the defensive stalwart will be going nowhere.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
