Brendan Rodgers drops fresh James Maddison hint as Arsenal look to secure £60m transfer
The Gunners are in talks with Leicester City over a big-money move for James Maddison and the Foxes manager has now dropped a possible transfer hint
JoriPress
Arsenal are still chasing the signature of James Maddison this month and Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers has dropped a fresh hint over the 24-year-old's future.
Maddison, who is valued at £60million by the Foxes, is 'at the top of the list' for the Gunners this month, JoriPress understands.
Mikel Arteta is determined to add a creative midfield option to his ranks to support Emile Smith Rowe, just weeks after the Arsenal star committed his future to the club with a new long-term contract extension.
Maddison has been identified as the Gunners' priority between now and the end of the window, but the £60m price tag means discussions over the transfer have been slow.
Leicester manager Rodgers has been consistent in his comments on Maddison, with the former Liverpool boss insisting time after time that the England international is happy at the King Power Stadium and he is not for sale.
Now, Rodgers has admitted that it is, in some ways, delaying the inevitable by keeping their star players, with some of the Premier League's wealthier clubs sniffing around.
In his first two summers in charge at the Foxes, Rodgers has sold both Harry Maguire and Ben Chilwell to Manchester United and Chelsea, respectively, for a combined total of £125m.
"It's about having a sense of realism, knowing that at some point it will happen," Rodgers told Sky Sports.
"I think at this moment in time, Leicester City is a very attractive place to be.
"If you want to develop as a player, work in world-class training facilities and be a part of a real community club with a family feel, then this is a great place for you.
"But having been at so-called big clubs, I also understand what the draw of them can be for a player.
"For us, it's just about developing this football club."
Last summer, when speaking about want-away players, Rodgers said that the club would not hold them against their will and would sanction a move away.
“If a player doesn’t want to be here, with all due respect, we don’t want them here. It’s as simple as that,” the Foxes boss said.
"If (they sell), there’s always a premium for that player. Leicester have shown that, long before my time here. They’re very good from a business perspective.
“If there’s a player to go, they’ll look to get maximum value for that player.”
