Brendan Rodgers provides transfer hint to give Chelsea…

Brendan Rodgers provides transfer hint to give Chelsea Wesley Fofana boost amid Leicester issue

Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers has admitted the Foxes will only be able to launch a late spending spree in the transfer market should they sell players. Chelsea's Premier League rivals have only added goalkeeper Alex Smithies on a free transfer during the summer window thus far with the former Liverpool coach offering no guarantee there will be more by September.

Chelsea have already seen two bids for Wesley Fofana rejected and seemingly still have plans to prise the French defender away from the King Power Stadium. It could take a record fee for a defender for the Blues to be successful.

However, with Rodgers suggesting the departure of players could release funds Chelsea still may face a challenge. The likes of James Maddison and Youri Tielemans have both been linked with transfers in addition to their 21-year-old teammate.

Rodgers said: “It’s still going to be one where the club need to try and move on some players and see what that releases, there’s no guarantee for us at this stage. Once anything happens the club will let me know. In the meantime, my focus is on the players that are here. If something happens later down the line then we’ll address it then.”

Despite the tough position, Rodgers respects the position of Leicester's hierarchy and acknowledges that there must be patience for progress. While Chelsea's summer spending could exceed £200 million if they add Fofana, the 49-year-old coach appreciates his club's ability to spend may not be in the same league. Nevertheless, there is disappointment he has not been able to freshen his squad.

“What you learn through experience is there’s no point in losing your head over it. The club has given me so much since I’ve been here and I’ve got huge respect for Khun Top (chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha), his family and the board. I’m no less ambitious than any other manager, especially where we’ve taken the club over the last couple of years.

“Of course, I want the club to continue to progress and improve. There’s also a patient element to it, which unfortunately in modern life can be difficult. The club is managed really well, there’s a reason for that because behind the scenes the people know maybe at times when to put the brakes on. Maybe this is what they have to do at this moment.

“We’re not in the same level and league as some of the other teams that have the resources so we always have to be really careful how it’s managed. As a manager of course I would have loved to freshen up the squad but I haven’t been able to do that. My experience tells me now that you just work and have the joy of coming in here every day and working with the players that are here, rather than just worrying about what you don’t have.

“There’s still a lot of growth in this squad. I’ve seen improvements in the last three and a half years since we’ve been working together, and that’s what I will continue to do until my last day here."

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