Jolly Rodgers
IT’S NOT BEEN PLAIN SAILING ... BUT WE’LL BE READY FOR NEW VOYAGES NEXT SEASON
BRENDAN RODGERS says Leicester City’s supporters can dare to dream next season.
The Foxes’ chief has lifted the east Midlands’ club to record highs during his tenure but admits big changes are on the way.
Rodgers will try to freshen up his squad by offloading several fringe players.
And that means that the likes of Hamza Choudhury, Ayoze Perez, Caglar Soyuncu, Ryan Bertrand (right), Jannik Vestergaard and Nampalys Mendy are likely to be traded, as the Foxes look to raise funds.
Leicester’s cash-position after the pandemic dictates that Rodgers will have to wheel and deal.
The Northern Irishman was hamstrung this season due to a horrific injury list.
Extensive European commitments meant that the Foxes were unable to replicate their fifth-placed finishes of the previous two campaigns.
Rodgers said: “It’s been a challenge, especially when you set the bar as high as these players have done. We’ve been on a historic journey.
“There’s been a lot thrown at us as a group this season. It’s still been a really good one for us.
“We know there are fresh challenges – other clubs with huge finances – but that really whets our appetite again.
“You’ve got the top six – plus Newcastle have shown their intent, Aston Villa will have clout financially… West Ham.
“We want to add players to give us the quality and depth we’ll need to come back and disrupt the market again.
“For clubs like ourselves, we have to find a challenge. But that’s OK.
“I go into every season to dream.
“And it’s important that I, as a manager, relay that to supporters.
“I have a bigger picture – a bigger perspective of this club.
“We have shown enough that if we can keep our squad we can meet a challenge. The highest we can now finish this season is eighth place – so that’s where we want to finish.
“We then want to come back in pre-season and give the supporters great hope.”
Much of the work Rodgers hopes to do depends on what cash he can raise by selling players like the above-named – several of whom have just 12 months remaining on their contracts.
There have been no takers so far for Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans. Kasper Schmeichel, the Denmark keeper, is another who might generate funds.
Rodgers added: “Newcastle have shown that it is possible to bring in a certain quality of player. They showed that in January.
“All of a sudden, along with good coaching and a fanatical fanbase, you can push the team forward.
“If you don’t have that, you have to find other ways. For us, it’s in coaching and maximising the talents we have.”