Manchester United held talks to sign ex-Leicester City star on loan in January

Manchester United considered a move for former Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi in the January transfer window, according to reports.

The 29-year-old spent nine seasons at Leicester City and was part of the side that won the FA Cup in 2021.

Last summer, Ndidi joined Besiktas, who were then managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, in an £8 million deal from Leicester.

United, meanwhile, have been looking to strengthen their midfield options with Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba on their shortlist of targets for the summer window.

According to talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs, United explored a short-term loan deal for Ndidi, who captained Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations, before ultimately deciding not to recruit a new midfielder.

‘Manchester United held talks with Michael Carrick, who had reintegrated Kobbie Mainoo, and they decided they didn’t want to sign another midfielder now and will wait until the summer,’ Jacobs told The United Stand.

‘Naturally, when we get to the summer Ndidi is not expected to be a candidate so this was something on loan with a buy option in the region of €12m [£10.4m]. That could have happened, it was considered.

‘Manchester United went to Besiktas and asked for the terms to be outlined, so did Ajax as well.

‘It was certainly a deal both before Michael Carrick arrived and after, there was a point of internal conversation at Manchester United and after deliberation they decided not to make a bid.’

Meanwhile, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims Ndidi was keen on a move to United in January.

‘In terms of incomings, I can tell you that Wilfred Ndidi, former Leicester midfielder now at Besiktas, was offered as an opportunity to Man United,’ Romano said on his Here We Go podcast.

‘A low‑cost option, the player was very keen on the move, but United decided immediately not to proceed.

‘They had the chance to do something like a low‑cost deal, but they chose against it.’

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