Manchester United and Liverpool are set to rival Chelsea for the pursuit of Eintracht Frankfurt defender Evan Ndicka.
Ben Jacobs has told The Football Terace that Liverpool and Manchester United are set to fight it out with Chelsea for Evan Ndicka. The French defender’s current contract will expire in the summer, and he is eligible to discuss a pre-contract this month.
Ndicka has attracted interest from all over the world as he has been one of the most fearsome centre-backs in the European circuit. The 23-year-old has been an ever-present in the Eintracht Frankfurt backline, establishing himself as one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga.
Contract talks have not been that satisfactory, and the youngster will be looking to step ahead when the summer arrives. Chelsea recently brought in Benoit Badiashile from AS Monaco, and they will continue their overhaul in the summer.
Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly already bankrolled two massive defensive incomings in the summer. But Chelsea’s recent showings have forced them to rethink their transfer strategy. The soon-to-be-free French defender Ndicka has thus emerged on their radar.
For Liverpool, the 2022/23 season has not been kind to them as Jurgen Klopp’s men have struggled to stamp their authority. Virgil van Dijk has been quite error-prone, while the likes of Ibrahima Konate have not been that impressive.
A midfielder is high on the agenda. But a defensive rebuild also needs to be done, as both van Dijk and Joel Matip have already entered their thirties. And Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will feel the need to freshen up their ranks.
Funds will be available, and Ndicka could be a cheaper alternative, as he will not command any transfer fee. A lucrative contract alongside a hefty sign-on bonus should be sufficient to entice the player to Liverpool. Ben Jacobs has now insisted Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United will ignite a feisty transfer battle.
“There’s a mad, mad chase on all across Europe for the 23-year-old. Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea potentially, even with the arrival of Badiashile and of course Wesley Fofana, Liverpool have kept an eye on him, and then, a whole variety of others across Europe. Paris Saint-Germain is another option.”
For Manchester United, it has been a pretty relishing affair for Erik ten Hag, as Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez have maintained pretty high standards. In addition, Luke Shaw’s recent emergence as a centre-back has been the icing on the cake.
But there has been uncertainty regarding Harry Maguire’s long-term future. And the Manchester United captain should be allowed to leave next summer paving the way for another defender to arrive at the club. It will be interesting to see if Ndicka becomes a top target for them. All in all, the soon-to-be-free French defender is an enticing prospect for all three clubs.
