Ben Guest
Brendan Rodgers has admitted that it may be hard for Leicester to keep hold of James Maddison if Manchester United were to come calling in the summer.
The England U21 international has impressed since moving to the King Power stadium from Norwich City last summer, scoring seven goals and providing nine assists in his 41 Premier League appearances. He also earned himself a call up to the recent England squad for the Euro qualifiers against Bulgaria and Kosovo, although is yet to make his senior debut.
The playmaker’s form has seen him linked with a move to Manchester United, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer thought to be keen to build a side based around young British talent.
While managers often do their best to discourage transfer rumours about their own players, Brendan Rodgers has made the surprising admission that a move to Old Trafford could be ‘too hard to turn down’ for Maddison, who is believed to have grown up supporting the Red Devils.
“I’ve been fortunate that I’ve been at Liverpool where I understand the draw of that type of club,” Rodgers said, as per The Times.
“Liverpool and Manchester United are two of the biggest clubs by far.
“There’s other great clubs, there’s big clubs, but those two, in terms of worldwide status, are above the other clubs.
“There are other great clubs that are trying to catch them up but those two, in my experience, are a level above.
“So 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.”
Leicester City were of course involved in protracted transfer talks with United last summer, with the Foxes successfully holding out for their £80 million asking price for Harry Maguire.
He may not have won our award, but @ColmBoohig made a very good case for @Madders10 to be named our Breakthrough Player of the Year for 2018/19… ?
Listen to the full pod ? https://t.co/h1IumRr1vH pic.twitter.com/6mmdscSP1b
— Football Faithful (@FootyFaithful_) May 23, 2019
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