Brendan Rodgers concedes Leicester City will have to sell 'assets' this summer if they wish to strengthen their squad. The Foxes boss admission comes as Newcastle United weigh up whether to launch a fresh bid for James Maddison.
The Magpies have already had two offers turned down for the one-cap England international, who enjoyed the best season of career to date last term. Leicester are said to be holding out for £60 million for the attacking midfielder who has two years left to run on his contract.
Eddie Howe is keen to add up to two attacking reinforcements, but has so far been frustrated in his efforts to land a new striker or winger. The United head coach says the club are operating in a 'small pool' of targets, with interest in Maddison emerging over the weekend.
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Rodgers has stressed he is keen to keep the former Norwich City playmaker at the club. However, the former Celtic and Liverpool boss has also confirmed his hands are tied in the transfer market unless he trims his squad.
Leicester's hierarchy made a 'very sensible' decision at the end of last season to balance their books, with captain Kasper Schmeichel sold to French outfit Nice this week. Maddison is one of a host of stars tipped with a potential exit, with Youri Tielemans in the final year of his deal and Wesley Fofana attracting interest from Chelsea.
Rodgers told BBC Radio Leicester: “I became aware towards the end of the season that the club would have to balance it’s books, then of course that becomes very difficult. The club will not look to spend money they don’t have and that is where the club is stable and they will always be very sensible.”
Leicester are the only club in Europe's top five leagues yet to make a senior signing in the current window. When pushed about the prospect of any incomings, Rodgers added: “Not at this moment, no. It would have to be about trimming the squad or selling your assets. That’s something that the club are looking closely at.
“It’s where it’s at. The squad needs to get trimmed. Until that happens, I have to concentrate on the players that I have.”
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