Crystal Palace are finalising their summer plans ahead of what promises to be a busy window for Dougie Freedman and Oliver Glasner.
For Oliver Glasner, this upcoming transfer window is the first opportunity for him to strengthen his squad ahead of the 2024-25 season, which promises to be the best for the Eagles in years.
Despite still having Roy Hodgson‘s squad, Glasner has already begun to see success as the manager of Crystal Palace with wins over both Liverpool and West Ham.
With safety achieved through these two wins, there will now be one eye from Dougie Freedman and co, firmly on this summer.
One player who has been linked with a move to Selhurst Park is a free agent who’s no stranger to the Premier League and has been compared in style to an England legend.
READ MORE: Who is Dougie Freedman? The Crystal Palace Sporting Director linked with Manchester United switch
Crystal Palace want free agent Wilfred Ndidi to sign this summer
The player we’ve noticed increasingly be linked as we approach May is Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi who is set to depart the King Power for free in June.
Ndidi is an excellent midfielder and Premier League-proven which makes him a good choice ahead of maybe Raphael Onyedika.
Ndidi could be joined by his teammate Kelechi Iheanacho who is also a target for free. But interestingly, Ndidi would be looking to build some better memories around Palace, as he will remember when he was sent off against Palace in 2017.
But would the Nigerian be a good signing for Palace? Well, he’s proven over his career he’s good enough and one comparison gives us reason to be optimistic.
Ndidi compared with Steven Gerrard
The perception of Ndidi as a player has changed over the years from defensive midfielder to ball player to this season where he’s had a more advanced role.
But his former manager at Leicester, Brendan Rodgers has previously likened Ndidi to Steven Gerrard as an orchestrator.
“I’ve always had one in my teams – that sort of central pivot that orchestrates the game,” Rodgers said according to the Leicester Mercury.
“I had Steven [Gerrard] do it for me at Liverpool and Leon Britton did it for me at Swansea, different types.
“I like to have a player in there but the three midfielders all have to be different for me.
“But you certainly need one who has the appetite to win the ball. They all have to press and be aggressive but how [Ndidi] wins the ball is incredible.”
How would Glasner fit Ndidi into his team?
If Ndidi arrived at Selhurst Park, where would he fit in? This is a fairly interesting question to wonder as already Glasner has some talented options.
£22m man Adam Wharton however is one option who is completely undroppable though and so for Glasner it’ll be about who suits playing next to him.
READ MORE: How much Crystal Palace paid to sign every 2023/24 first-team squad player in the transfer market
Jefferson Lerma and Cheick Doucoure are two players who’ll be competing for the other position, along potentially with Ndidi.
Lerma could easily transition into being a central defender as he’s taken to that role like a duck to water.
We will need to see the level Doucoure returns at too after he’s missed so much time through injury.
So there is definitely a place for Ndidi in the squad, and for free there is no argument.
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