GRAY SET TO LEAVE
BUT RODGERS HOPEFUL EVANS WILL SIGN NEW TWO-YEAR DEAL
DEMARAI Gray’s Leicester City career is almost over with the winger very likely to leave next summer, manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted.
Gray’s contract at the King Power Stadium expires in June and Rodgers believes a “fresh start” is best for the 24-year-old.
Contract talks were on the table in the summer just gone, but with Gray wanting guarantees over game-time that City could not provide, no deal was concluded.
Since then, the winger has been left out of the Europa League squad completely, while he is yet to even make the bench in the Premier League, with his sole outing coming in the Carabao Cup.
He is nearing the end of his time at the club.
“It’s pretty clear with Demarai that he’s looking to move on,” Rodgers said in his press conference ahead of tomorrow night’s clash with Brighton.
“His attitude to training has been first class, he has been very professional, but he is at the stage of his career where he has been here a long time and hasn’t maybe nailed down a place. A fresh start may be the course for him.
“Until his last day here, I will always respect him, there will always be an opportunity for him, and I will never discard him but it’s looking more than likely he will probably be somewhere else next season.”
However, Rodgers is confident that Jonny Evans will be a City player come the start of the next campaign.
Like Gray, Evans is out of contract next summer, but talks are in progress over a new two-year deal, and Rodgers is hopeful of keeping a player that is crucial to his plans.
“He’s instrumental in what I’m trying to do here,” said Rodgers on Evans, who captained City in their 2-0 win over AEK Athens on Thursday night.
“He’s very much like a coach for me on the field. He’s got a brilliant football brain, he understands the game at the highest level. He understands the journey of where we’re trying to get to. He’s been there. He understands the pressure around it and what’s required.
“His value to myself and the team is huge and he knows we want him here.
“Importantly, Jonny wants to be here. He sees the path the club is on. For him in the latter part of his career, he’s at a really exciting time at a club that’s looking to move forward.
“Hopefully we can move forward on this deal and that will be completed fairly soon.”