MX23RW : Tuesday, May 14 21:25:17| >> :60:816:816:

Brendan Rodgers hopes "top club" mindset convinces Leicester stars to stay

Brendan Rodgers hopes
© Reuters
Leicester go to Champions League rivals West Ham on Sunday.

Brendan Rodgers wants to cement Leicester among the elite to ensure they keep their stars.

The Foxes are challenging for Champions League qualification for a second season ahead of Sunday's trip to top-four rivals West Ham.

Youri Tielemans is in line for a new contract while injured duo Harvey Barnes and James Justin have also impressed this season.

James Justin, Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemans, l-r
James Justin, Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemans, l-r, have shone for Leicester this season (Mike Egerton/PA)

The Foxes, third in the Premier League, have sold Riyad Mahrez, Harry Maguire and Ben Chilwell in the last three summers and Rodgers wants to end any desire players would have to leave the King Power Stadium.

"I'm a realist," said Rodgers. "I've worked at big clubs and I understand the pull.

"It's not just about the club, it really is about the player. We want to be in a position where we can establish ourselves as a top club. We want to shift the mindset to us being a top club and you only do that by consistently performing and playing well.

"It's an ongoing process. It just all depends. It's one where of course you want to keep your best players, and if you have them in a contractual situation then you're in a stronger position.

"However, if a player is really desperate to leave and he's still in a strong contractual position, for me, you never want to keep players that don't want to be here.

"Hunger is so important. If players are hungry and they're coachable and they want to learn, then that's the formula that allows you to progress as a club.

"I learned through experience that to keep a player who genuinely doesn't want to be here is counterproductive.

"For us, the club have always dealt really well with that. They will always look to improve the contracts of players where they possibly can.

"It may be the case that in the summer we look to do that."

David Moyes, right
David Moyes, right, has West Ham flying (Michael Regan/PA)

The Foxes are four points ahead of West Ham ahead of the clash at the London Stadium and Rodgers heaped praise on Hammers manager David Moyes.

He added: "David has done a great job. He has been able to bring players in and he's moulded the squad into a tough team to beat. He has organisational skills and experience as a manager, alongside that, you need good players and they have some outstanding players."

ID:442630: cacheID:442630:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7715:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
West Ham United manager David Moyes pictured on February 27, 2021
Read Next:
David Moyes ready to get "creative" after Rice, Antonio injuries
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester463141189414897
3Leeds UnitedLeeds462791081433890
4Southampton462691187632487
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4621121370472375
6Norwich CityNorwich4621101579641573
7Hull City461913146860870
8Middlesbrough46209177162969
9Coventry CityCoventry4617131670591164
10Preston North EndPreston46189195667-1163
11Bristol City461711185351262
12Cardiff CityCardiff46195225370-1762
13Millwall461611194555-1059
14Swansea CitySwansea461512195965-657
15Watford461317166161056
16Sunderland46168225254-256
17Stoke CityStoke461511204960-1156
18Queens Park RangersQPR461511204758-1156
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn461411216074-1453
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds46158234468-2453
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth461312215970-1151
RBirmingham CityBirmingham461311225065-1550
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield46918194877-2945
RRotherham UnitedRotherham46512293789-5227


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!