Barcelona eye shock swoop for Championship star

Stuart Telford

• 12 Nov 2023 13:12 GMT
• 3 min read

Barcelona are set to launch a bid for Leicester midfielder Wilfried Ndidi according to reports in Spain.

The Blaugrana have been forced to sign players on free transfers and loans in recent windows as they try to pull out of the €1.35 billion debt they had when they lost Lionel Messi on a free transfer to PSG in 2021.

That debt has been restructured, allowing nominal transfer movement - Oriol Romeu joined from Girona for €3.4 million in July - but Bosmans look set to remain the club's bread and butter for the time being.

READ: Is Wilfred Ndidi really a transfer target for Real Madrid?

And next on their list in this regard is Ndidi, the Nigeria international midfielder who is out of contract with Leicester at the end of the season.

"If Nico Williams' name came up recently, with his contract at Athletic Bilbao expiring, the Blaugrana have shortlisted others, one of whom is powerful Leicester midfielder Wilfred Ndidi," reports Sport's Luis Miguelsanz.

"Barca are already familiar with the player having made an impossible approach of €70 million a few years ago."

READ: Aubameyang makes 'INCREDIBLE' Barcelona revelation

Arsenal were also previously interested in Ndidi, who joined Leicester for €17.6m in January 2017 and boasted some of the best numbers in the Premier League in terms of touches in the attacking penalty area and shot-creating actions before the Foxes' relegation.

Those were impressive numbers for a nominal defensive midfielder, and his ability to break the lines could push Frenkie de Jong further down the pecking order at Camp Nou.

De Jong is one of a number of players Barca would be willing to cash in on, with even the previously untouchable Robert Lewandowski now linked with a move to MLS.

Ansu Fati and Sergino Dest are also for sale, at the conclusion of their loan spells with Brighton and PSV Eindhoven respectively.