Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers takes a swipe at Wesley Fofana’s attempts to force a move away
Brendan Rodgers takes a swipe at £85m Chelsea target Wesley Fofana’s attempt to force a move away from Leicester… claiming it is ‘very different’ to Harry Maguire’s because the Man United defender was ‘fantastic right up until the last minute’
- Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has hit out at Wesley Fofana’s commitment
- The defender has been the subject of heavy interest from Chelsea this summer
- Rodgers’ side rejected a third bid from the Blues for the Frenchman last week
- The Northern Irishman dismissed comparisons between Fofana and Maguire
Brendan Rodgers has questioned Wesley Fofana’s behaviour and commitment to Leicester amid strong interest from Chelsea – and confirmed the defender will not play when the two teams meet at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Fofana has been demoted to the club’s Under 21s as punishment for missing training in protest about his desired move to west London and Rodgers insists he will not be selected while he is distracted.
In a damning assessment of Fofana’s attitude, Rodgers said the 21-year-old’s handling of the saga is different from the ‘immaculate’ behaviour of Harry Maguire before his £80million move to Manchester United three years ago.
Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers has slammed defender Wesley Fofana’s commitment
The Frenchman has been the subject of heavy interest from Chelsea throughout the summer
Fofana is desperate to join Thomas Tuchel’s side but Leicester are holding firm on their £85m valuation of a player who has five years left on his contract.
Leicester have rejected three bids so far from Chelsea with the biggest believed to be around £70m.
The Blues are expected to return with an improved offer of around £75m plus add-ons tomorrow, and hope the player’s stance works in their favour.
Rodgers dropped Fofana for Leicester’s defeat by Southampton last week and the defender watched the match from the stands.
21-year-old was left out of the Foxes’ squad for their 2-1 defeat to Southampton last weekend
Rodgers has dismissed comparisons made between Fofana and ex-defender Harry Maguire
The Leicester manager said the situation has not changed ahead of the trip to Chelsea.
‘For me, it’s always about the commitment and when the players are ready to commit to the ethos of the team (they can return),’ said Rodgers.
‘He won’t be available for the weekend. He has trained with our Under 21s. It’s been a challenge for Wesley. If you aren’t in the right frame of mind, we have to move on.’
Rodgers is keen for a move to go through as Leicester’s finances mean he will only be able to strengthen his squad if the club sell, but the Northern Irishman said he cannot get distracted by waiting for a fourth bid to come from Chelsea.
‘My concentration is on the players we’ve got and the team. I can’t lose energy thinking about it.’
The Foxes boss stated that Maguire (pictured) ‘was fantastic right until the last minute’ in 2019
It was only five months ago that Fofana signed a new contract at Leicester and declared: ‘I love everything about the club. It’s a family. I want to achieve more with the club.’
Leicester should not be surprised with how Fofana has acted. He was disruptive in forcing through his move from Saint-Etienne two years ago.
If Chelsea are to meet Leicester’s £85m valuation it would see Fofana surpass Maguire as the most expensive defender in history. Rodgers, though, said the behaviour of the two players was ‘totally different’.
‘In fairness to Harry, in terms of his behaviour and his focus for the club, he was fantastic right until the last minute.
‘For Wesley it’s different. He’s a younger player, and maybe under different pressures behind the scenes. Wesley is a real good lad and has been brilliant for us in his time here. We have to see how the next period goes.’
Additional reporting: SIMON JONES
