Arsenal in huge Youri Tielemans transfer blow with Leicester not willing to sell midfielder in January as deal runs down
LEICESTER will NOT sell Youri Tielemans in January, insists boss Brendan Rodgers.
Tielemans‘ Foxes contract expires at the end of the season, with the Belgian unlikely to pen another one.
Arsenal are interested in signing the 25-year-old, but appear likely to have to wait until next season to do so.
Speaking about Tielemans’ future, Rodgers vowed: “It’s not something we are thinking of and not anything the club have said we need to do.
“We don’t want to be offloading our best players, that’s for sure.
“So there has been no hint or indication we need to generate money and move him on.
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“But, of course, there’s a business side to the club that they will look at.
“We had a number of long chats in the summer. There is clearly no doubt even a young guy who is focused like Youri and very professional, it can have an impact.
“But he has been fully focused. He doesn’t let that affect him. He is a top-class professional, he sees the game how I see it.
“On the field he understands what is happening within the game and that’s all he can do – give his very best – and his recent performances have been excellent.”
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Leicester lost star defender Wesley Fofana to Chelsea in the summer, while long-time stalwart Kasper Schmeichel left for OGC Nice in France.
The Foxes went winless in their first seven matches this term, before finally beating Nottingham Forest 4-0.
Their form has improved somewhat in recent weeks, with Tielemans wearing the captain’s armband in their last four games.
They still find themselves in the relegation zone, however, having picked up 11 points from 13 games.
Arsenal, meanwhile, covet more depth in the midfield area.
Beyond starters Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka they are light in the middle – with Albert Sambi Lokonga and crocked Mohamed Elneny their only other options.