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Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has underlined his determination to keep Wesley Fofana and James Maddison, amid interest from Chelsea and Newcastle United.
The Foxes have already lost captain Kasper Schmeichel to Nice and have reportedly refused a number of offers from Newcastle for Maddison, while Chelsea are said to be targeting a swoop for Fofana.
Both players have been reported to be open to a move before the transfer window closes on September 1; however, speaking ahead of Leicester’s Premier League opener against Brentford, Rodgers made it clear he does not want to lose either man.
“I hope not, I hope we want to keep them. I mentioned before, these players are not for sale, they are very important players for us,” Rodgers told a news conference.
“Obviously there’s a situation at the club where we need to move some players out, but it’s not getting rid of anyone and everyone, especially our best assets.
“You don’t want to lose your top players and this is something that the club are very strong on. At this moment in time, the guys you mentioned, certainly James and Wesley, are training very well, working very hard and getting ready for our game on Sunday.”
Asked whether there was a monetary figure that would mean the likes of Fofana and Maddison being allowed to leave, Rodgers conceded it may be out of his hands.
“That will be up to the club. The club have been outstanding here in their work in the market, so for me, I’m football, and we’ll concentrate on whilst they’re here, any player, to help and improve the team,” he added.
Leicester are the only club in the Premier League yet to make an addition in the transfer market ahead of the new season, and Rodgers said that it is unlikely to change in the final weeks of the window.
“As things stand, I believe not. I mentioned that before, it’s a repetitive message at this moment in time, there’s nobody imminent coming in. The concentration has purely been on the players that are here,” he said.
“I think we can do well in the Premier League. Any manager will always want an improvement in their squad, I think that’s only natural, but it’s not the case and I respect the club’s position.
“The club have been outstanding for me in my time here, supported me in whatever I’ve wanted to do and, at this time, I need to support them. It’s a situation that’s unfortunate.
“I don’t need to fight with anyone, I just need to concentrate on the players I have. I would have loved to improve the squad, but there is time, if things change, but at this moment in time, all the focus is going into the players who are fit and available, getting them in the best condition possible.”
