Bren expects a fight to keep his big stars
NEW Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers expects a battle to keep their in-demand stars but insists he isn’t fazed.
Manchester United are long-term admirers of the Foxes’ England centreback Harry Maguire, who starred at last year’s World Cup.
Manchester City want left-back Ben Chilwell, while playmaker James Maddison has been on Spurs’ radar since he broke through at Coventry.
Leicester lost N’Golo Kante to Chelsea in 2016 after winning the title and Riyad Mahrez joined City last summer.
Now Rodgers admits there is set to be fresh interest in the club’s stars with Leicester unlikely to qualify for Europe.
But Maguire and Chilwell committed last summer to improved contracts until 2023 and 2024 respectively. Maddison also penned a deal until 2023 when he joined from Norwich and is in line for a lucrative extension at the King Power.
Asked about United bidding again for Maguire, Rodgers said: “They may well come in but it doesn’t worry me.
“All you can worry is that you make the team the very best they can be.
“You always have to be prepared for that moment as a club – it happens.
“But at this moment in time, I’m thinking about the team and making it the best that we can.”
Rodgers is now preparing for his first home match as Leicester boss against Fulham on Saturday. He lost his opening game at Watford due to Andre Gray’s last-gasp winner but there were positive signs at Vicarage Road, where Leicester used a new three-man central defence with wing-backs.
It helped ball-playing stopper Maguire distribute it from the back.
Rodgers added: “He can step in, but firstly, he can defend. He wins his headers, he’s very powerful, he’s brave, he gets blocks in.
“But the type of game I have always promoted, they need to have some comfort on the ball at the back and he can make passes, so he’s a big talent.”
Rodgers was lured away from Celtic to work with Leicester’s exciting young squad. They spent £100m last summer on Maddison, Ricardo Pereira, Caglar Soyuncu, Filip Benkovic and Rachid Ghezzal.
But Rodgers expects more cash to strengthen later this year, adding: “There is no doubt we will look to improve, but there is no figure, no number.
“Each year you have to improve, I’m sure we will spend.”
Rodgers got the nod after talks with director of football Jon Rudkin and Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, known as Top, who has assumed control after the tragic death of his father Vichai in a helicopter crash last October.
The Northern Irishman said: “All Top gave me was support. For the first time in his life he is without his father, he made this decision without his father.
“He’s been courageous and brave throughout the process, that was clear to see. We will work very closely to give supporters a team they can be proud of.”