BRENDAN RODGERS has warned there are no guarantees Ben Chilwell will still be at Leicester City next season – despite the Foxes qualifying for Europe.
That shock admission is likely to spark a summer stampede for the England left-back, who is a priority signing target for money-bags rivals Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea.
Brendan Rodgers doesn’t know whether Chilwell has played his last Leicester gameCredit: AFP or licensors
Chilwell has been ruled out of Leicester’s two remaining games against Spurs and Manchester United with a thigh injury and could even miss the start of next season.
When asked if that could mean the 23-year-old may have played his last game for the club, Rodgers replied: “I’m not sure.”
That unexpected response will have alerted the chasing pack of wealthy clubs, led by United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who is desperate to lure Chilwell away from the club currently blocking United’s route to the Champions’ League.
But with almost four years left to run on Chilwell’s contract the Foxes will drive a hard bargain for the £60million-rated full-back, who has been with Leicester since he was 12 and is now an established England international with 11 caps.
Rodgers said: “He’s not a player we want to lose. I’m quite relaxed on it. I’m not worried at all.
“We’ve got a fantastic squad that we want to keep together so I don’t worry.
“You can spin it whichever way you want. There is no intention to sell Ben Chilwell and there is absolutely no need for us to sell Ben Chilwell.
“If you want a message, the message is he’s not for sale.”
However, the Leicester boss said much the same thing about Harry Maguire last summer before Manchester United eventually met the Foxes whopping £80m asking price – a world record for a defender.
A similar tale unfolded with Riyad Mahrez, who Manchester City pursued relentlessly for two seasons, until finally coughing up a then club-record £60m to land their man, with Leicester again holding all the cards as they had Mahrez tied up on a long-term deal.
There is a real possibility Chilwell could be the next high-profile departure from the King Power and that the Foxes 3-0 win over Crystal Palace could be his last for the club – especially as he could miss the start of next season through injury.
If you want a message, the message is he’s not for sale
Rodgers on Chilwell
Asked about Chilwell’s chances of recovering from his thigh injury in time for next season, Rodgers said: “We just need to wait and see on that.
“It’s an injury that will last over the course of a number of weeks. I can’t confirm either way on it.
“James Maddison will just miss out this season and in the off-season he will do his work, by the time we get back training in August then he should be back.
“Ben might be a little bit longer, as will Christian Fuchs.
“It’s something for us to look at over the course of the next few months but we’ll have to see how they go over the next five weeks or so.”
Leicester have the luxury of a couple of ready-made replacements for Chilwell, should the right offer come in and tempt them to sell.
James Justin, currently impressing at right-back in the absence of injured Player of the Year Ricardo Pereira, regularly played on the left for his previous club Luton Town.
Meanwhile, Leicester appear to have unearthed another left-sided gem in Luke Thomas, who was outstanding on his senior debut against Sheffield United, just weeks after turning 19, and looks certain to retain his place against Spurs tomorrow.
Luke Thomas is a rising star coming through LeicesterCredit: AP:Associated Press
Rodgers couldn’t hide his delight at his youngster’s mature performance on his debut against Sheffield United and said: “Luke has real quality and we’ll nurture him.
“There’s going to be many more opportunities for him. He’s a fantastic talent.
“I’d heard about him when I came in and had seen him play some reserve games.
“He was clearly a talent but then when he came in to train with us, you really get to see his qualities and his temperament close at hand.
“From the first day he’s been the outstanding young player that’s come and worked with us.
“I thought he could play in the first team, then it was about how do we manage this.
“With kids you have to decide if they need a loan or do we need to keep him for six months and nurture him here?
“But he’s been with us since lockdown, in particular, and when you see that quality and temperament consistently, then we had absolutely no qualms about playing him.
“I was thinking about playing him against Bournemouth. Maybe I should have done.
It’s been a great start to his career against a team with Sheffield United’s fantastic quality and physicality – to cope with that was a great start.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
