Liverpool or Man Utd move could be “too hard to turn down” for James Maddison, admits Brendan Rodgers
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted offers from Manchester United or Liverpool may be “too hard to turn down” for midfielder James Maddison.
The Foxes managed to keep hold of the 22-year-old playmaker over the summer despite reports heavily linking him with a move to the Red Devils.
Is Maddison destined for Man Utd? Five things to know…
- Maddison was heavily linked with Man Utd and Liverpool in the summer.
- The midfielder created more chances (100) than any other Premier League player last term.
- Rodgers has admitted he couldn’t stand in the way if Maddison wanted to join a bigger club.
- Reports suggest United will come back with a £60m offer for the Englishman next summer.
- Former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy believes it could take closer to £100m to secure his signature.
But Maddison – who created more chances (100) than any other Premier League player last season – has started the new campaign in fine fashion once again, registering two assists and completing the second-highest number of dribbles (17) of any player in the division so far.
As long as this form continues, Maddison’s name will continue to be mentioned alongside the likes of Liverpool and Man United and Rodgers, who managed the Merseyside giants between 2012 and 2015, understands the draw of a big club and conceded he wouldn’t stand in the way of such a move.
“I’ve been fortunate that I’ve been at Liverpool where I understand the draw of that type of club,” said Rodgers. “Liverpool and Manchester United are two of the biggest clubs by far.
“There are other great clubs, there are big clubs, but those two, in terms of worldwide status, are above the other clubs.
“Whenever a player gets an opportunity to go to a club like that, to experience that type of pressure, that expectation – and of course there’ll be a financial side to it as well, let’s be real – that as a package in a short career is maybe something that is too hard to turn down.
“I understand it, I get it.”
Rodgers: Leicester are not a “selling club”
Despite admitting it would be hard to keep Maddison should a big enough club express interest, Rodgers has maintained that Leicester are not looking to sell their top talent and that Maddison still has much to improve upon at the King Power Stadium before he dreams of moving elsewhere.
“In a player’s career there will always be that temptation,” he added. “But this is a club that doesn’t want to sell its best players.
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“Of course, if there is a valuation met, which meets what the club perceive it to be worth, there will be a discussion. But it is not something we want to invite.
“James is a very talented player for us. He has lots of improvements to make as a young player. He along with a lot of young players here, we want to keep.
“But of course I am a realist as well and I understand how the market works. But it is not something we would be looking to entertain.”
