Leicester City face Arsenal in a Premier League showdown on Saturday lunchtime and so many talking points have emerged ahead of the clash.
18th place Leicester host an Arsenal side in second position, with Mikel Arteta’s men hoping to close the gap to leaders Liverpool in the title race.
Whilst the Foxes are battling relegation this season, there was a time when they fought for the Premier League, impressively winning the prize in 2016.
Under the incredible management of Claudio Ranieri, Leicester finished above Arsenal and produced a fairytale moment that will forever go down in history.
Once the dust had settled on their title win, Jamie Vardy rejected a transfer to Arsenal in 2016 after Arsene Wenger attempted to sign the Englishman.
Interestingly, Vardy isn’t the only current Leicester star to turn down a move to the Emirates Stadium.
Wilfred Ndidi rejected transfer to Arsenal in 2016
Winning the Premier League almost nine years ago handed the Foxes power and newfound riches in the transfer window.
Although N’Golo Kante was sold to Chelsea for £30 million in 2016, Leicester’s hierarchy sounded out Genk’s Wilfred Ndidi as his replacement.
Leicester sealed the £15m transfer for Ndidi in the 2017 January transfer window and he’s since amassed 290 appearances for the club, cementing his place as an icon.
However, before they secured a deal for the Nigerian – who was aged just 20 at the time – Ndidi rejected the advances of Arsenal in the summer of 2016, as reported by the Telegraph’s John Percy.
Alongside Vardy, he became another player to turn down the opportunity to play under Wenger, in what was the beginning of the Frenchman’s demise at the Emirates.
Ndidi is Leicester’s longest-serving current player after Jamie Vardy
Ndidi is one example of when Leicester’s recruitment was top drawer. It can be likened to Brighton’s current model, who unearth gems from across the world and transform them into world beaters.
Now 28 years old, the Nigerian international has become more of an all-action midfielder, as opposed to just a combative presence in front of the defence.
He’s played a crucial role at Leicester over the years, playing a huge part in their FA Cup triumph in 2021 and then promotion back to the Premier League in 2024.
Ndidi has recently returned from an injury and will be an important figure in their fight for survival after performing brilliantly in the defeat to Manchester United on Friday.
Following almost 300 appearances and eight years on from his transfer, Ndidi is the second longest-serving current player after Vardy as Hamza Choudhury is on loan at Sheffield United.
For just £15 million, he has proven to be a huge bargain and will go down as one of Leicester’s greats.