YOURI STELLAR
BRENDAN RODGERS says Youri Tielemans is so good he’s worth his WAIT in gold, writes GRAEME BRYCE.
The 24-year-old Belgian midfielder was supposedly on the brink of signing a bumper new contract ahead of Leicester City’s last Europa League tie against Slavia Prague in February.
Since then the Rodgers’ Foxes have won the FA Cup – beaten Manchester City to win the Community Shield – and are back in the Europa League ready to host Italian giants Napoli tonight.
However Tielemans, whose spectacular FA Cup winner against Chelsea will go down in Foxes folklore, is no closer to reaching for his pen and says he is ‘keeping his options open,’ and is ‘open to anything.’
With less than two years remaining on his contract, Rodgers knows giants such as Liverpool, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona are circling Leicester’s £35million record buy – whose value has doubled since arriving from Monaco in 2019.
But Rodgers looks relaxed and said: “I’ve obviously seen what Youri said and – like I always get from Youri – he gave an honest answer and it’s open to whatever way it’s interpreted.
“It only becomes a problem to me if there’s a lack of commitment or intensity, but that’s never been the case with Youri who is one of the best professionals I have ever worked with.
“That won’t change, whether he has five years, four years, or six months left of his contract.
“There’s dialogue between his representatives and the club as to how long he stays. But he’s happy, he’s working well, and I’m delighted he is with us.”