Football
Julien Laurens, Correspondent 4y

PSG want Leicester's Ndidi; Partey, Bakayoko also options - sources

Paris Saint-Germain are interested in signing Leicester's Wilfred Ndidi, as they search for a new central midfielder in the summer transfer window, with Atletico Madrid's Thomas Partey and Monaco's Tiemoue Bakayoko also considered options, sources have told ESPN.

Ndidi, 23, was in fine form for Champions League-chasing Leicester before the break due to the coronavirus outbreak and became the subject of interest from some top European clubs.

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And PSG, through their sporting director Leonardo, are positioning themselves to make a move. The Nigeria international arrived at Leicester in 2017 from Genk for £15 million and still has another four years left on his contract. His value is estimated at around £45-50m.

Despite recently bringing in two central midfielders in Idrissa Gueye last summer for £30m from Everton and Leandro Paredes the previous January for £36m from Zenit, the Parisians still feel they need a strong and aggressive holding midfielder which neither the Senegal nor Argentina internationals are. Ndidi ticks all the boxes and Leonardo could soon accelerate on their interest.

Ndidi is not the only midfielder on the list. Partey, 26, who is also having a very good season, is also another name on their shortlist. The Ghana international's buy-out clause is £43.7m.

Leonardo is also a big fan of Bakayoko. The Frenchman, 25, had a revival at Monaco this season and still belongs to Chelsea, where he endured a difficult spell before being loaned to Milan and then back the Ligue 1 side. Monaco will not trigger his £30m release out clause.

In addition, PSG are also looking for a right-back and a left-back as Thomas Meunier and Layvin Kurzawa are both out of contract in the summer.

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