Manchester United fans have a chance to sign a tenacious midfielder who is eager to join after the Ruben Neves deal appears to be falling through.
On 22 January 2026, Fabrizio Romano, a football transfer market expert, revealed the latest on Manchester United's reinforcement opportunities during the English Premier League winter transfer window.
Manchester United is reportedly prioritizing strengthening their midfield but is expected to have a limited budget in the January transfer window, making a move for Portuguese international Ruben Neves from Al Hilal unlikely.
Although Ruben Neves's transfer fee is under £20 million as his contract expires at the season's end, the issue lies with his weekly wages of £300,000. Recently, the Daily Mail reported that Al Hilal is negotiating a two-year contract extension to keep him in the Saudi league.
Fabrizio Romano further revealed that Manchester United has been offered the chance to sign Wilfred Ndidi, a defensive midfielder from Besiktas. Although 29-year-old Ndidi just moved to the Turkish league this season and serves as vice-captain, he wants to return to the Premier League and is willing to accept a wage reduction.
Ndidi's move to Manchester United might be a six-month loan. He brings extensive Premier League experience, having played 220 matches for Leicester City from 2017 to 2025, scoring 7 goals and providing 14 assists.
Recently, Ndidi captained the Nigerian national team to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. If Manchester United secures him on a short-term deal, he could add energy to their midfield and provide on-field leadership.
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