Leicester transfer news: Brendan Rodgers hints Arsenal and Liverpool target wants to leave
- Michael Graham
- 14 January 2022
Foxes boss assures fans plans are in place in case midfield star decides future lies elsewhere.
Brendan Rodgers has told Leicester fans he can offer no guarantees about the future of reported Liverpool and Arsenal target Youri Tielemans.
The Belgian has been a revelation at Leicester since joining in 2019, scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final last season to secure the trophy for the first time in the Foxes' history.
He has just 18 months left on his current deal, though, and although the club have held talks with the midfielder about renewing his contract, Rodgers has suggested he expects Tielemans to move on.
"He is at an age and at a stage in his contract where he has to ensure he looks at every option," Rodgers said. "I would love it to be here at Leicester, that is natural, but I understand it's a very short career.
"For players it's about ambition, the challenge and sometimes it's about a different environment. We have seen it before many times.
"Teams have won the Champions League and the player will move on. That's the nature of it. For me, I can only worry about keeping improving him as a player, keeping him focused and letting everything else be taken care of.
"We have a close relationship, it's really strong. I made a commitment to him when I first came in that we would improve him as a player and he believes in the environment.
"Once the player is committed, focused and professional it's never a worry for me. With Youri you can see his joy of being here, he loves being here and you have to respect these guys' careers are short."
The situation with Tielemans is not a new one for the club, with Leicester having to face losing top players before.
Rodgers, then, feels he is able to at least assure fans that a plan is in place in case Tielemans does decide to leave the club.
"You always have to [prepare], that is key," he said. "I have said it before about the pipeline of players. You always have to be looking ahead, that's important. Sometimes it happens unexpectedly.
"Other times you know where the situation is at. We will always look for the type of player who suits how we work, it's always been the case and it will be the same with any player in any position.
"If we are going to lose one we have to be ready for the next one to come in."
