Why Leicester star Wilfred Ndidi isn’t the man who Tottenham need right now
According to Sport Witness (h/t Football.London), Tottenham Hotspur are keeping tabs on Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, with manager Jose Mourinho keen to bolster his midfield.
As per the report, the North London giants are understood to have taken information about the 23-year-old, who is widely regarded as one of the best young defensive midfielders in the Premier League.
Ndidi has also attracted interest from PL rivals Man United and Arsenal, meaning Tottenham could have their work cut out in securing a deal for the Nigerian international.
Profile
Wilfred Ndidi shot to prominence with Genk in the Belgian top-flight before earning a move to Leicester City back in January 2017. The Nigerian quickly established himself as a regular starter for the Foxes. He has since evolved into one of the best deep-lying midfielders in English football.
The 23-year-old has made a total of 140 appearances for Leicester across all competitions, scoring 8 times in the process. Ndidi started 29 games in the Premier League last season. He was instrumental as the Foxes secured a 5th-place finish to qualify for the Europa League.
Why Tottenham don’t need Ndidi
Tottenham wrapped up some early business in the summer transfer window with the acquisition of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Southampton. The 25-year-old’s arrival has already handed a significant boost to Mourinho’s depth in the midfield. Hence, it’s really surprising to learn that the Lilywhites are seeking further cover in that department.
Tottenham already have several established central midfielders in their ranks. Harry Winks has been one of the mainstays of the club’s midfield cavalry over the past couple of seasons. Eric Dier, Moussa Sissoko, Giovanni Lo Celso, Gedson Fernandes and Tanguy Ndombele are all capable of playing in multiple positions across the midfield.
To that end, the Lilywhites already have enough competition for places in their midfield and signing Wilfred Ndidi wouldn’t make much sense. The Nigerian could be an upgrade on some of those aforementioned players but he is not someone who Tottenham need to prioritise this summer.
Verdict
Tottenham have gaping holes to fill in several areas of their squad, especially at the heart of the defence. They also need to think about bringing in a new right-back. Serge Aurier has been repeatedly linked with a move away from North London.
Read More
- Why Tottenham should sign Arkadiusz Milik as back-up for Harry Kane
- Why Tottenham must make a move for Ainsley Maitland-Niles
- Opinion: Why Tottenham should go all out to sign Emerson from Barcelona
Also, a reliable back-up to Harry Kane should be a top priority for Mourinho. The Portuguese gaffer needs to make full use of the transfer window to build a formidable unit capable of challenging for a top-four finish in the league.
Suffice to say, Tottenham would be wise to avoid a swoop for Wilfred Ndidi and focus on strengthening other areas of their squad.
