Mcleish tips Leicester teen capture to

LEICESTER have been told that Genk midfielder Wilfred Ndidi can be their new N’golo Kante.

Foxes are in advanced talks to sign the 19-year-old from the Belgian side for £14million in January on the back of several scouting missions.

And one former Premier League boss says the Nigerian international, 20 next week, can fill the void left by Kante’s £30m summer move to Chelsea. Without the tireless French midfielder, Leicester have gone from champions to the brink of the relegation dog fight.

But former Birmingham and Aston Villa boss Alex Mcleish, who bought Ndidi for a bargain £80,000 when he was in charge at Genk, believes the teenager can solve Claudio Ranieri’s midfield problems.

Mcleish (below) acted on a recommendation from scout Roland Janssen, who spotted Ndidi in an academy tournament in Nigeria, and took him to Genk for a trial.

Mcleish, in charge at the Belgian side from 2014-2015, told Mirror Sport: “He is Kante-like.

“He will cover the ground like Kante does.

“In terms of technique you wouldn’t say he is the best passer in the world but he keeps it simple.

“I saw him on tape and at the next recruitment meeting we pushed the button. I immediately saw the speed of the boy.

“We had no money to spend on any bigger names to help the first team because those were the parameters under which I took the job.

“But I said ‘let’s get this guy.’

“I’ve taken a big interest in the kid since and they want a fortune for him now.”

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