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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Kieran King

Leicester taking Brendan Rodgers gamble amid Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal links

It has been a frustrating transfer window for Leicester City fans so far, with the Foxes the only Premier League side yet to make a summer signing.

Leicester have been linked with the likes of Nodi Madueke and Charles de Ketalaere, but neither deal has progressed far at all - to some anger amongst the City faithful. However, outgoings are looking more likely at this stage with the Foxes' squad relatively bloated, having competed in Europe the last two seasons.

The saga surrounding Youri Tielemans' proposed move away from the King Power Stadium has dragged along all summer, but City chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha revealed they have received no bids for the midfielder. It is understood the Foxes need funds and squad space in order to make new additions, and letting Tielemans leave could be the perfect first move.

Tielemans has one year left on his current deal at Leicester and could run his contract down if the Foxes does not receive a suitable offer and sell the player. This would mean he leaves for free in 2023 - a nightmare situation for City after signing him for £32m three years' ago. Arsenal are interested in Tielemans, while Man Utd have been linked.

Then reports emerged that Nice have 'agreed' a deal with Leicester over the transfer of veteran goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. The Danish international is the club captain and one of the only genuine leaders in the dressing room alongside Jamie Vardy and Jonny Evans. But the Foxes will need to find a replacement before letting him go.

This is all before Chelsea expressed an interest in talented centre-back Wesley Fofana, with the Blues keen to sign the France Under 21 international as they look to bolster their defensive options. Leicester, meanwhile, have reiterated he is not for sale after Fofana signed a new five-year contract back in March.

Kasper Schmeichel has made over 450 appearances for Leicester City since signing in 2011 (Getty Images)

Where will Leicester finish this season? Let us know in the comments below!

Fofana also praised the club for how much they have supported him since suffering a horrendous leg break in pre-season last August. He has impressed following his return to the side, and although he is attracting interest from Champions League clubs, Leicester are unlikely to sell Fofana this summer unless they receive a massive offer.

James Maddison and Harvey Barnes are amongst the other players linked with a move away, with other Premier League clubs keen to take advantage of the Foxes' current predicament. Newcastle are interested in a switch for 24-year-old Barnes, while Tottenham have been backed to sign Maddison, who ended the season in impeccable form, having scored 17 goals in all competitions.

It seems as though Leicester are in a bit of a tricky situation with just over a week to go until their Premier League opener against Brentford on August 7. Many of their high-profile players are being linked with other clubs which could disrupt the momentum inside the Foxes dressing room, after picking up 10 points from their final 12 available at the end of last season.

Brendan Rodgers has cut a frustrated figure when asked about the Foxes' failure to strengthen in the summer, but the sole reason why could be the fact they have not sold anyone. Jannick Vestergaard, Caglar Soyuncu, Daniel Amartey and Hamza Choudhury are all more likely to be granted a move away than the likes of Maddison, Barnes and Fofana, but there appears to be little interest in the quartet.

But could the Foxes' lack of ambition in the summer window risk losing Rodgers? The Northern Irishman has done an excellent job since joining from Celtic in February 2019, guiding City to back-to-back fifth place finishes while also winning the FA Cup. Although last season was disappointing, the Foxes did have injuries to key players and were competing in Europe.

Rodgers has previously been linked with Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and even the England job in the past - three clubs that could be considered as 'upgrades' on Leicester. The Foxes know that he has unfinished business at the top of the division, but must back Rodgers by selling and buying or risk losing him in the near future.

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