Brendan Rodgers braced for January bids for Leicester star James Maddison and claims it is ‘only natural’ the midfielder’s outstanding form would attract interest
- James Maddison has been Leicester City’s best player in the Premier League
- Manager Brendan Rodgers is preparing for bids to come in for him in January
- The Foxes rejected two bids from Newcastle in the summer transfer window
Brendan Rodgers accepts James Maddison‘s outstanding form will lead to the Leicester star attracting more bids in the January transfer window.
The Foxes turned down two offers from Newcastle in the summer for Maddison, who has begun the campaign in superb fashion despite Leicester’s struggles. The 25-year-old has five goals and two assists in his opening seven league games and has been one of the top performers in the country.
Rodgers believes Maddison deserves the chance to add to his single England cap, with the World Cup just around the corner. But the playmaker’s contract expires at the end of next season and he is not close to signing a new one, meaning there is certain to be interest in him.
James Maddison has been Leicester CIty’s talisman this season with five goals in seven games
Rodgers said: ‘I would think (there would be). My job is to coach him every day and make him the best he can be. It’s only natural you want your absolute best players to be here, and we keep saying that, but we keep losing them. He’s never a player you would want to lose.
‘The beauty of James, and it’s the same with this England scenario, is that it hasn’t affected him. That’s where you see the level of maturity.
Brendan Rodgers (left) is ready for bids for his star player in the January transfer window
‘What we’ve seen in the past is, sadly, players are linked with all sorts of clubs because an agent has to create a market, and then when it doesn’t come off, you see the player disappointed.
‘It’s never been like that, and James has been linked with loads of clubs. But he’s a realist.
‘He also knows he’s in a good place to develop and learn, and he knows he can focus on day-to-day life and improve. What will be in the future will be, but it will only be on the back of playing well.’
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