Barcelona line up January bid for Ndidi following their elimination from Uefa Champions League

CATALAN giants Barcelona are reportedly planning a January raid for Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi with Spanish sports daily transfer market website Fichajes revealing that a bid is being put together for Leicester City.

Ndidi, 25, has over the last three seasons established himself as the mainstay of Leicester City's midfield where he is an ever-present regular. Since joining Leicester City from Belgian side Genk in January 2017, Ndidi has gone on to establish himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.

His performances have caught the eye, with European giants like Paris Saint German (PSG). Manchester United and Real Madrid all eyeing him in previous seasons. However, it appears that Barcelona are the only prepared to put their money where their mouths are as the club has drawn up a list of midfielder targets ahead of the January transfer window.

After failing to qualify for the knockout rounds of the Uefa Champions League for the second season in a row, Barcelona are hoping to sign a right-back and a defensive midfielder to bolster the squad. Work is already underway with Ndidi being among the 13 midfielders being considered.

Although Ndidi is under contract until June 30, 2024, the Foxes have been selling their best players in recent seasons as happened with Ngolo Kante, Riyad Mahrez, Wesley Fofana, Kasper Schmeichel, Ben Chilwell and Harry Maguire. Ndidi has scored goals in 215 all-competition appearances for Leicester City.

Due to injury, Ndidi has not featured for the Nigeria national team since going the distance against Tunisia at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in January, missing seven consecutive matches. Nigeria will take on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in glamour friendly scheduled to hold at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon on November 17 and it is hoped Ndidi will be available for this.