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Brendan Rodgers wants James Maddison to sign a new contract with Leicester City but will not be “begging” the England international to stay.
Leicester signed Maddison from Norwich City in 2018 in a deal reportedly worth £20million and has since gone on to become one of the Premier League’s best attacking midfielders.
Although injuries have troubled him this season, Maddison has been involved in 21 goals in his last 19 Premier League starts, scoring 13 and assisting another eight.
His 14 goal involvements in the top flight this term is bettered by only six players, all of whom have played at least 500 minutes more than Maddison.
But his contract is due to expire at the end of June 2024 and Leicester do not appear to be making much progress on a new deal, meaning a sale at the end of the season is increasingly likely.
Rodgers is prepared to move on, however, adamant one player leaving is not a catastrophe.
“It’s been a conversation the club have been having with his representatives for a while, so nothing’s changed there,” Rodgers told reporters ahead of Sunday’s trip to Manchester United.
“His contract is clear where it’s at. For me, it’s about making sure James is playing at the best level he can be, and thankfully he’s doing just that. He’s staying available and fit.
“It’d be great [if he signed a new deal]. He’s a top player in the league, he’s shown that in his time here, gradually.
“You can see that development take place. We improve players and give them great conditions to work in, but I won’t be begging a player to stay.
“They get great support here and if they’ve been here, they understand what the club is about. This is a great club, great facilities and they have to understand that.
“But it’s a short career and they have to think about the future. I understand what they’re thinking.”
More pressing than contract talks, however, is the upcoming clash at Old Trafford.
Rodgers expects to have Youri Tielemans, Boubakary Soumare and Maddison – whose record of no goals in eight games against United is his worst record versus any club in the Premier League – available for the match after recent fitness issues.
Leicester head into the game on the back of something of an upturn in form, winning their past two Premier League matches, though they have not won three in a row since January 2021.
