Leicester City have secured the future of a midfielder that can transform Steve Cooper’s plans.
Steve Cooper has had an uphill battle to replace midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall after he joined up with former Foxes boss Enzo Maresca at Chelsea.
Cooper has been proactive in looking to replace the man who was so pivotal at the King Power Stadium last season with 26 goal contributions in the Championship.
Celtic and Danish midfielder Matt O’Riley has attracted interest from Leicester City, who is one player that would be able to fit the Dewsbury-Hall mould.
Cooper is also interested in Callum O’Hare on a free transfer following his release from Coventry City, as well as Argentinian attacker Matias Soule.
Leicester City’s midfield at one point looked set to be completely disbanded, however one prominent figure in the middle of the park has committed his future at the club, much to Cooper’s relief.
Leicester City star Wilfred Ndidi set to sign £75k-a-week contract to stay at the club
Nigerian international Wilfred Ndidi is set to stay at the King Power Stadium in a three year deal, per Fabrizio Romano on X.
Ndidi has also decided to stay at the club ‘despite more than five bids’ from other clubs.
The midfielder, who was once deemed by Premier League winning manager Claudio Ranieri as a ‘warrior’, will be on a reported £75k-a-week wage for the upcoming Premier League season.
Cooper will have a guarantee of Premier League experience in his side for the 2024/25 campaign with the 27-year-old having played nearly 200 Premier League matches with Leicester City since he signed for the Foxes back in January 2017.
Ndidi was also crucial in the 2023/24 Championship campaign under Maresca, getting nine goal contributions.
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How Wilfred Ndidi staying at Leicester City will get the best out of a Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall replacement
Dewsbury-Hall had a monumental 2023/24 Championship season as he bagged 12 goals, however this wouldn’t have been possible without the pivotal role that Ndidi played in the side.
The 27-year-old midfielder played a slightly more attacking role than he was used to, however still sat slightly deeper alongside Harry Winks, whilst Dewsbury-Hall was given the positional freedom to push forward.
With Cooper set to play a similar 4-3-3 formation as Maresca, Ndidi will likely utilise the same role alongside whoever Leicester City manage to replace Dewsbury-Hall with.
If O’Riley was to sign for Leicester City for example, not having Ndidi providing cover in the middle of the park would limit the Danish international’s ability to push further forward and linger outside the box when attacking.
The Nigerian’s defensive assurance is something that has been so pivotal for Leicester City in the several years he has been at the club, and the midfielder committing his future at the club will be a huge relief to Cooper, who now has assurance that he will be able to give a midfielder the attacking freedom needed alongside Ndidi and Winks.