Rodgers rules out January departures from Leicester

LONDON: Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers has ruled out any departures during the January transfer window as he attempts to keep pace with Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

The Foxes host struggling Norwich on Saturday aiming to stay within striking distance of leaders Liverpool, who are heading off for the FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar after their match against Watford.

England pair Ben Chilwell and James Maddison, along with midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, have all been touted as potential targets for rival clubs in the transfer window but Rodgers insisted there would be no departures.

“There will be nobody leaving in January, categorically,” he said at his pre-match press conference on Thursday saying he had the support of the club’s director of football Jon Rudkin and chairman Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha. “I am speaking regularly with Jon and Top,” Rodgers said.

“It is really clear, we want to keep this squad together. It is an exciting team with growth and development in it, so we want to ensure they stay around beyond January.” Leicester have won a club-record eight straight top-flight games under Rodgers, who was last week rewarded with a new contact until 2025.