Steven Gerrard and Aston Villa given £50m transfer boost with club ‘expected to sell’

Aston Villa may have been given a boost in their reported interest in Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi.

Reports last month have linked Villa with an interest in the Nigerian international when the summer transfer window opens. It is said that Steven Gerrard is weighing up a bid of around £50 million in order to test Leicester’s resolve.

Defensive midfield is an area that is likely to be prioritised in the summer window, with Villa failing with bids for Brighton’s Yves Bissouma during the January window. The midfielder will have just one year remaining on his contract at the end of the season, but that could prompt interest from other clubs.

It means that Villa could have other potential options lined up, in case a deal for Bissouma can’t be reached. Injury to Marvelous Nakamba has left Gerrard short in the area this season.

Ndidi has been a key player for Leicester since joining the club in January 2016, leading the way in both tackles and interceptions in the middle of the park. The 24-year-old is under contract until 2024.

Brendan Rodgers has talked about a ‘refresh’ of his squad when the transfer window opens. And the Daily Mail claim that the Foxes are ‘expected to sell at least one’ member of their senior squad.

The most likely player to leave the King Power Stadium is Youri Tielemans, who will have just one year remaining on his contract at the end of the season. The report does also add that there is ‘interest’ in Ndidi.

If £50 million would be enough for Villa to convince Leicester to part with one of their main players is still to be seen. The Foxes are known as shrewd operators in the transfer window, and only selling on their terms.

Speaking last month , Ndidi himself outlined his plans for