Tottenham-linked Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi heading to Turkey to join Besiktas
Tottenham Hotspur remain in the market for midfield reinforcements after signing Joao Palhinha from Bayern Munich on Sunday.
Palhinha has joined the north London club on a season-long loan with an option to buy, after Vincent Kompany deemed him to be surplus to requirements at Bayern Munich. Following a tough season in the Bundesliga, the Portuguese destroyer has arrived back in the Premier League to rebuild his stock ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
The 30-year-old addresses a crucial area in the middle of the park for Thomas Frank’s side. Before landing Palhinha, the Lilywhites were tentatively linked with Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi.
Wilfried Ndidi heading to Turkey?
Once regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League, Wilfried Ndidi wants to leave Leicester City after their relegation from the top flight last season. A staple in the Foxes’ XI for years, the Nigerian has racked up over 300 appearances across nine campaigns. He made 28 league appearances during the 2024/25 season, as Leicester City suffered the drop.
Now, the 28-year-old wants to end his time in England and is seeking for a new adventure. According to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano on X, Ndidi is on the cusp of agreeing personal terms with Besiktas. The Turkish club await the player’s final exit details with Leicester, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer aims to bolster his midfield unit.
A missed chance for Tottenham?
Ndidi had several suitors in the Premier League as well as Europe, especially due to his contractual terms at the King Power Stadium. The African enforcer’s contract with the Foxes had a £9 million release clause that came into effect following their relegation from the Premier League, making him a potential bargain target for clubs on the continent.
Tottenham also had an opportunity to trigger Ndidi’s paltry release clause and bring him to north London if they wanted to, but Frank and Co. instead opted to sign Palhinha on loan from Bayern. Having signed Palhinha, Spurs are no longer in need of a No.6. Frank can use young Archie Gray as a back-up for Palhinha when required, meaning the signing of Ndidi does not appear as a priority now.
Instead, the Lilywhites must now focus on signing a creative midfielder in the wake of James Maddison’s serious-looking knee injury.