Fabrizio Romano drops claim on Leicester City player’s willingness to join Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest have submitted an opening proposal for Leicester City midfielder Wiflried Ndidi
Nottingham Forest have presented an opening proposal for Leicester City midfielder Wilfried Ndidi.
The Nigerian international has emerged as a target for Forest over the last few days, and they’re now ready to make a move for the Championship midfielder.
Fabrizio Romano has reported that Nottingham have told Leicester about their proposal to sign the 26-year-old. He added that personal terms have been agreed and Ndidi wants the move.
The midfielder has featured in most of the Foxes’ games so far this season. Last night, in the EFL Cup, against Tranmere Rovers, he came off the bench at half-time, and put in a brilliant cameo performance, scoring a goal and assisting another.
Why would Leicester City sell Wilfried Ndidi?
The 26-year-old has less than 12 months left on his current deal with Leicester, and there has been no indication that he intends to negotiate a new deal with the club.
He has played in all of Leicester’s Championship games this year. But he’s only averaging 57 minutes a game in the league, so he isn’t as integral to the team as he has been over previous years. For example, in the 2021/22 Premier League season, he averaged 85 minutes per game.
The club have also added depth to their midfield, alongside Ndidi. They’ve recently acquired Cesare Casadei on a season-long loan from Chelsea. They were also able to bring in the vastly experienced Premier League midfielder Harry Winks for a £10 million fee, according to talkSPORT.
These additions, alongside those who were already there, like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Boubakary Soumare, and Dennis Praet, mean that Leicester have the freedom and depth to make some money by selling Ndidi.
What would Leicester lose if they sell Ndidi?
He is a player who can anchor the midfield as well as many, when healthy.
His fitness hasn’t been as bad over the last year. But prior to then, he missed over 40 games for club and country due to injury, from September 2020 to the end of the 2021-22 season.
Last season, he made 2.3 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game. Those are massively down from the 3.7 tackles and 2.3 interceptions per game, in the 2020/21 season. Even in the season after that, his numbers didn’t dip down to the levels of last season.
He was also being dribbled past once per game last year, as well as conceding two penalties and making two errors that directly led to a goal.
His recent performances don’t show the player that was previously there. Going down to the Championship seemed like it could be a good place for him to find his feet again and get his side back up to the Premier League. But, at Forest, he may not be relied upon as much to be the driving force in the midfield.
It would be a sad loss for fans of the Foxes, as he has been a brilliant player for them. But he doesn’t appear to be at that level anymore, and cashing in could be the smart thing to do.
Luke Thomas latest updates: Leeds United chase, James Maddison advises Daniel Farke, Man United interest
FLW summarises the latest transfer news surrounding Leicester City’s Luke Thomas
Luke Thomas’ Leicester City career has been somewhat turbulent to date.
A graduate of the club’s academy, Thomas made his initial first-team breakthrough during the 2019/20 campaign and has gone on to feature on 85 occasions while representing England at every single age-group barring senior level.
Still only 22 years of age, the left-back possesses an array of experience within the game and played 17 times in the previous season as Leicester succumbed to relegation from the Premier League.
However, regular action has been much harder to come by following the managerial appointment of Enzo Maresca, who aspires to lead the team in a new direction and does not appear to see Thomas in his immediate plans.
He has not played a single minute of football thus far in the 2023/24 campaign, having been usurped by summer loan arrival Callum Doyle, a central defender by trade.
As such, a departure feels likely before the window closes this coming Friday and we have rounded up all the latest news surrounding the Leicester defender’s future.
Leeds United transfer enquiry
According to The Athletic’s Phil Hay, Leeds have lodged two approaches for Thomas over the summer.
It is believed that Daniel Farke has been keen to bolster his defensive options, something that has only been amplified further following the injury to Sam Byram during Saturday’s 4-3 victory at Ipswich Town.
Leeds are particularly short-staffed in the left-back berth and had to play right-sided defender Cody Drameh there but he lasted just 21 minutes before he was hauled off after gifting Nathan Broadhead’s goal for the hosts.
Any possible deal for Thomas would likely be a temporary one, although Leicester have understandable reservations about loaning the youngster to a direct Championship rival, who they will likely be fiercely competing against for promotion this season.
James Maddison communication
In an interesting turn of events, talkSPORT have claimed that former-Leicester captain James Maddison has sung Thomas’ praises to Farke.
It was under the German’s stewardship that Maddison earned his big move to Leicester in the summer of 2018, having racked up 14 goals and eight assists for Norwich City the season prior.
Therefore, the playmaker no doubt has a strong knowledge of how Farke operates and how Thomas can fit into his system, meaning that his believed communication in the deal could prove vital for all involved.
It remains to be seen whether the Leeds boss with follow Maddison’s advice and push through a move for Thomas.
Man Utd interest
Leeds will face competition from the Red Devils for Thomas, who are plotting a shock move, according to the Daily Mail.
Erik Ten Hag’s side have a left-back crisis themselves through injuries to both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, leaving former-Preston North End loanee Alvaro Fernandez as the only recognised out-and-out option there at the minute.
Right-back Diogo Dalot can operate on the other side of the pitch and did so during the 3-2 comeback victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon, but he is not a natural fit there.
United are considering alternatives and Thomas is said to be one name on that shortlist.
