30th Apr 2024 • Written by Josh Holloway

Wilfred Ndidi: Potentially Palace

With several departures from the Crystal Palace squad expected in the summer, Oliver Glasner will be keen to bolster his squad depth in preparation for the 24/25 campaign.       

One position that needs strengthening is central midfield. The primary midfield options currently include: Jefferson Lerma, Adam Wharton, Cheick Doucoure, David Ozoh, Jairo Riedewald, Will Hughes and Naouirou Ahamada. Hughes is expected to sign a one-year contract extension with the club before next season, whilst Riedewald may be let go in the summer, if the club decide not to offer an extension on his current deal.

One option that could be useful for Crystal Palace this summer, is that of Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi. He is out of contract in June and Palace are among a number of clubs who are interested in securing the services of the versatile midfielder.

Ndidi would bring both Premier League and European experience to the Eagles. A strong option off the bench, he may also provide necessary competition for Doucoure, who is currently expected to start in that defensive midfield role.

The arrival of Ndidi may also allow  younger midfielders such as David Ozoh or Naouirou Ahamada to get loan moves in order to aid their development. 

Who is Ndidi?

Wilfred Ndidi is a 27-year-old Nigerian defensive-midfielder currently playing for Leicester City. 

Ndidi’s senior career began at Genk. He made his debut in the Belgian Pro League in 2015 and quickly became a regular starter. His tenacity and technical proficiency caught the eye of reigning Premier League champions Leicester City who secured his services for £17 million in January 2017.

His first cameo came off the bench in a 3-0 victory against Everton. His first start came a week later, where roles reversed and Leicester were defeated 3-0 by Chelsea at the King Power Stadium.

Photo: Michael Reagan/Getty Images

What does Ndidi bring to the table?

Ndidi is a complete midfielder. He is highly versatile, with the capability of playing in a variety of positions whilst still remaining impactful. Ndidi is largely known for his defensive prowess, his ability to break up opposition attacks and act as a shield for the backline.

There are other characteristics that define Ndidi’s ability. He is highly capable at regaining possession for his team and has a high work-rate which suits Glasner’s pressing tactical style. He is strong at initiating attacks from deep positions with accuracy, and also possesses good defensive and offensive aerial ability.

How has he performed this season?

Despite being a largely defensively-minded midfielder, Ndidi’s attacking numbers are promising. In the Championship this season, he has averaged 4.2 progressive passes, 2.6 shot-creating actions, 1.8 progressive carries, 4.7 touches in the opposition’s penalty area, 6.6 progressive passes received (a testament to his positioning) and 2.8 tackles/interceptions per game. Numerically, these statistics demonstrate his all-round nature as a midfielder and suggests he could quite easily be a valuable member of Oliver Glasner’s squad.

Is Ndidi a realistic target?

There is little reason why Crystal Palace could not sign Wilfred Ndidi during the summer. He is a free agent and unlikely to renew his contract, he fits the club’s need for greater depth and tangible interest is held.

It depends whether or not Ndidi is willing to be a rotation player rather than a guaranteed starter. It is expected that multiple clubs will be interested in signing Ndidi but hopefully Oliver Glasner and Dougie Freedman can work their magic and convince him to join the project.

The next steps

With very little time left of the campaign, Crystal Palace will be unable to substantially track his progress, but we can assume that Freedman has already kept his eye on Ndidi and that the club are interested. Crystal Palace can open talks with the defensive midfielder in the summer but Glasner’s full focus will be on finishing the current campaign as strongly as possible.

Ndidi would almost certainly be a valuable asset to the Austrian wizard’s army come next season.

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