Brendan Rodgers has rubbished rumours linking Youri Tielemans with Arsenal, saying the midfielder remains ‘very happy’ at Leicester.
Tielemans has only 18 months left on his current contract at the club and the Foxes have made little progress in their attempts to convince him to extend his stay.
Reports emerged this week that Arsenal have been alerted to the situation and Tielemans’ representatives have held talks over a possible move to the Emirates.
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Tielemans is not expected to leave this January, but the Gunners see themselves as an ‘appealing option’ for the midfielder in the summer and Champions League qualification would boost their hopes of getting a deal done..
But, speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Rodgers said he was still hopeful the Belgian star would commit his future to the club and put an end to the speculation.
‘Youri is very happy here,’ Rodgers told reporters ahead of Leicester’s Premier League game with Burnley. ‘He has clearly developed and turned into one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
‘Clearly with a player with that quality and with the length of contract, he’s always going to be talked about. I can’t worry about that.
‘I know he is concentrated and very focused. We hope he will sign a new contract. He is a brilliant professional.’
Mikel Arteta has made no secret of his desire to improve the midfield this month and a number of names are being linked with the club, including Brighton’s Yves Bissouma, Lyon’s Guimaraes and Gini Wijnaldum.
Though determined to bolster his team before the transfer deadline, Arteta has played down fans’ expectations as he pointed at the ‘extremely difficult’ January market.
‘What I really want this month is that we have as many players as possible fit and healthy and that we do the best and maximum with those players,’ the Spaniard said.
‘After we have a strategy of how we want to evolve and improve the team, and whenever that is possible we are going to try to do it. ‘We all know that this market is extremely difficult.’
