Barcelona ‘eye SHOCK move for Championship star’ on free transfer next summer… with Xavi’s side ‘looking to persuade out-of-contract Leicester midfielder to move to Spain’

Barcelona are eyeing a shock move for a player currently playing in the Championship, according to a report.

Xavi‘s side are looking to continue to build their squad as they look to return to the top of Europe’s elite. Barcelona won LaLiga last season but are currently third and four points off top spot in the standings this term.

They have been blessed with a plethora of talented midfielders including the likes of Gavi and Pedri, but are keen to strengthen in that department in the next 12 months.

The summer transfer window is long closed, but January will present an opportunity for teams to add to their ranks as they look to kick on, or they can wait until the summer.

And it’s next summer when, according to Sport, the Spanish giants are set to move for Leicester’s Wilfred Ndidi, whose contract is up with the former Premier League champions at the end of the season.

 Barcelona are reportedly eyeing a move for a Leicester midfielder at the end of the season

Wilfred Ndidi is out of contract at the end of the current campaign and could leave the club

Ndidi and Leicester are yet to agree terms on a new deal, with it likely that the 26-year-old will leave the Foxes on the expiry of his contract.

He is judged by many to be a much better player than that of Championship-standard, but he has been forced to play in England’s second tier this season after he was unable to secure a move away in the summer.

The Nigeria international has made 12 appearances in the Championship this season with Leicester currently top of the table, three points ahead of Ipswich in second and 11 ahead of third placed Leeds, meaning they have a big advantage in the automatic promotion places in the league.

He has also played three times in the Carabao Cup this term, having previously featured in both the Premier League and Europa League in his 252 appearances for the Foxes since joining for £14million from Genk in 2017.

Ndidi has been one of the standout players in the Championship this season 

Barcelona, meanwhile, have been forced to think of alternative ways to sign players rather than splashing cash due to their financial limitations.

It is reported that Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Juventus have all had an eye on signing Ndidi, and a free transfer at the end of the season would be the perfect deal for Barcelona.

The Catalan side reportedly approached Leicester to sign Ndidi in the past, but were quoted a price of £61.3million for his services, eventually walking away from the deal.

No contract would mean no transfer fee, however, and it’s likely the player would be very tempted by the opportunity to move to one of the world’s biggest clubs.