Nigerian international midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is one of the 24 nominees for Transfermerkt’s Premier League player of the year award.
The German-based website which has footballing information such as scores, results, statistics, transfer news and fixtures and is in the top 25 most visited German websites, and one of the largest sport websites after kicker.de first shortlisted the Leicester City midfielder among the six nominees for the midfield player of the year and then in the 24-man team made up of six players in four different areas of the game.
Others shortlisted are the Manchester City duo of Ilkay Gündogan and Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, Tomas Soucek of West HaM United and Chelsea’s Mason Mount.
Of the six, Ndidi, who made 25 starts in 26 appearances for the Foxes in an injury plauged season for him (missed 11 games due to injuries) is the only defensive minded midfielder in the group.
The Nigerian who was named by Premier League legend, Alan Shearer in his Team of the week in February after the former RC Genk of Belgium star dominated the midfield battle in Leicester City’s 3-1 defeat of Liverpool at the King Power stadium is adjudged as the midfield anchor that held Leicester City in place in the concluded season.
The Super Eagle did a lot of selfless work in his position as the defensive midfielder in Brendan Rodgers’ 4-1-4-1 formation as he efficiently broke up play and recovered possession, which allowed Leicester’s manager to be ambitious with his team selections.
Without Ndidi’s qualities as that sole midfield pivot Rodgers may not have had the confidence to also pick two attacking full-backs and twin attacking midfielders and the team perhaps could have finished out of the European places.
In the just ended season and despite missing 11 games, the 24 year old was adjudged the fourth best tackler with his 96 successful tackles and jointh eighth in terms of interceptions.
Voting for the award is open on the website of transfermarkt will close on June 5,2021.