Wilfred Ndidi: Man United plot shock transfer raid for Besikstar star | OneFootball

Manchester United are reportedly considering a shock move for Wilfred Ndidi as INEOS search for cost-effective measures to bolster Michael Carrick’s squad.

Loans over Transfers

United are prioritising a midfield rebuild this year, with Elliot Anderson the club’s first-choice target. There will, however, be intense competition across Europe for the Nottingham Forest maestro.

Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Brighton starlet Carlos Baleba also feature highly on the wish list for the Red Devils, with all three options expected to cost upwards of £100 million.

United would be willing to accelerate plans for long-term targets this month, as demonstrated by the pursuit of Antoine Semenyo over Christmas. The Ghanaian winger ultimately rejected these advances in favour of joining Manchester City, but the approach proves the money is there to spend.

INEOS will refuse, however, to sanction moves for alternative options whose main attribute may simply be availability, such as Conor Gallagher, who joined Tottenham Hotspur last week after being strongly linked with United despite a skillset which did little to move the needle at Old Trafford.

Instead, the club’s hierarchy are understood to be pursuing loan moves to provide Carrick with better depth without eating into this summer’s budget, when the primary targets will become available.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is one option under consideration as the AC Milan midfielder looks for a return to the Premier League.

But talkSPORT reveals Ndidi is another name in the mix, with the Besiktas enforcer also having “aspirations to return to England one day for both football and family reasons” after spending eight-and-a-half years with Leicester City.

Premier League Proven

The report confirms United are pursuing a “midfielder on loan to bolster their hopes of Champions League qualification” after the 2-0 victory over City emboldened hopes of a top-four finish.

“Exploratory” talks have been held for Loftus-Cheek, who made over 100 appearances for Chelsea, along with spells at Palace and Fulham before moving to Italy.

United executives have also “discussed” Ndidi, however, after the 29-year-old defensive midfielder left England to join Besiktas last summer.

The Nigeria international led his country at the African Cup of Nations, and is currently the captain of the Turkish heavyweights as well – a testament to his leadership skills in the dressing room. But he is also a difference-maker on the pitch, at least without the ball.

Ndidi’s defensive metrics are all outstanding, ranking in the 98th percentile for interceptions, 97th for aerial duels, 94th for tackles and 92nd for clearances.

The 2021 FA Cup winner offers little once possession has been regained, but a 6’0 defensive monster with extensive experience in the Premier League is a sensible target for United on a limited budget.

Featured image Michael Regan via Getty Images

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