Chelsea blow in Wesley Fofana pursuit as Brendan Rodgers comments on transfer rumours and James Maddison bid

Marc Mayo1 August 2022

Brendan Rodgers has issued a hands-off warning after reports emerged of Chelsea’s interest in Wesley Fofana.

Leicester will demand a fee as high as £85million, it has been claimed, for the French defender who in March agreed to a new five-year deal with the Foxes.

Chelsea want a new centre-back to go alongside new signing Kalidou Koulibaly but have been knocked back in bids for Jules Kounde, Presnel Kimpembe and Nathan Ake - leading them to Fofana.

But Rodgers stated on Sunday evening: “Naturally, he’s a top talent. He’s not for sale. He still has lots of improvements to make. He’s very happy here, he really enjoys being here.

“Naturally he will attract the interest of other clubs. Our job, in not signing anyone so far, is to at least keep the players we have. I know that’s the intention of the club.”

Leicester are facing interest in not only Fofana but Youri Tielemans from Arsenal plus in James Maddison from Newcastle and Tottenham.

Rodgers gave short shrift to a rumoured £40m bid for Maddison from the Magpies.

The manager added: “He’s still very much a player here. Naturally the players are sought after because they are talents.

“You see his performance, you see how happy he is and he’s not a player we want to sell. It’s not for me to put valuations on the players, it’s not my side, but that might just cover three-quarters of his left leg, that price. He’s a top player.”

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