‘Tielemans does not want all this uncertainty dragging on’
RODGERS SAYS BOTH SIDES ARE HOPING FOR A SPEEDY RESOLUTION
YOURI Tielemans does not want the uncertainty surrounding his future to drag on, Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed after sitting down with the midfielder.
With Tielemans into the final year of his contract at the King Power Stadium, he has long been linked with an exit this summer.
But while Arsenal are keen, no offers have yet arrived for the Belgian.
Rodgers and Tielemans sat down to discuss the midfielder’s future recently. While the manager would not reveal the contents of their conversation, he did indicate that both the player and the club were hoping for a resolution as soon as possible.
If the 25-year-old does leave, City will likely need to replace him, but time is ticking in the window.
Asked if he was planning for Tielemans to depart later in the month, Rodgers said: “There is that possibility but there has not been anything for him.
“We haven’t had any approaches to the club yet on that.
“Of course, it is in the back of the mind, that sort of what-if scenario.
“But I know he is also very keen to… he doesn’t want anything to drag on either.
“He really, really enjoys being here and his young family really enjoy the area.
“He doesn’t want to put his kids into school, start school and then have to end up taking them out.
He is very much a family man. The conversation was really good, really open, really honest and we both know where it’s at. “There’s obviously lots of speculation around and unless I’m told any differently I drive in here every morning and look forward to seeing him and working with him. “He is again another guy who has developed and matured as a footballer and off the field. He’s here, and he gets that respect and we continue to work with him until I’m told otherwise.”
Tielemans did not start City’s final pre-season friendly against Sevilla on Sunday, only coming on to the pitch after Ricardo Pereira injured his Achilles.
Rodgers’ preference for playing James Maddison in the centre of the park, rather than on the right, may mean Tielemans is left out of the line-up against Brentford this weekend as well, with Wilfred Ndidi and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall set to complete the midfield trio.
He really, really enjoys being here and his young family really enjoy the area
Brendan Rodgers on Tielemans