Leicester City

Chelsea are preparing a new bid for Leicester defender Wesley Fofana, 21. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Chelsea: Ross Mooring, Chelsea Fancast, external

Conor Gallagher is a one-of-a-kind player, an all-action midfield general.

In spite of an underwhelming full debut for Chelsea at Leeds last weekend - something that can be said for most Blues who played that day - Gallagher already possesses the attributes to play at international level, as evidenced by Gareth Southgate giving Conor his first cap last season.

Impressive on loan at Crystal Palace last year, as he was for West Brom, Swansea and Charlton before that, the intuitive Gallagher applies every ounce of himself to the team and this attitude has won him plaudits everywhere. Conor has an excellent eye for goal, drives forward with the ball and has ability and nous to find the right pass wherever he finds himself on the pitch.

While there is no denying James Maddison is a very good player and has deserved to make more than one international appearance, England are blessed with a lot of talent in the positions that the Leicester man most regularly operates.

At just 22 years of age and now training with Chelsea's collection of stars every day, Gallagher will only continue to improve. Even if his development this year is ultimately best served by a final Premier League loan before the window closes, there will be no keeping the irrepressible dynamo down, at club or international level.

Leicester: Sam Holloway, LeicesterFanTV, external

So long as Southgate is the manager, I think it will be Gallagher. For whatever reason, he does not rate James Maddison, which is absurd. He is clearly one of the best English midfielders, with the highest goals and assists ratio out of any of his competition, so there can be no other reason why he is not in Southgate's England squad.

Unfortunately, I agree with a lot of Leicester fans who believe that just because he plays for "little old Leicester", he isn't rated by the English national team. I hate to say it but if he moved to one of the so-called 'big six' clubs, like Spurs or Arsenal, or his boyhood club Manchester United, he would be recognised more for his country.

As for Gallagher, just compare his stats with Maddison already this season. Madders has two goals and an assist after just three games. Gallagher? He has none. There is no comparison to be made here.

Maddison is clearly better but because he plays at Leicester he goes under the radar.

Read the rest of this week's debates here

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Brendan Rodgers says "things will become clearer" around Wesley Fofana when the transfer window shuts next Thursday.

The centre-back has been ruled out of contention for Saturday's away game against Chelsea due to personal reasons, amid speculation over his departure from the club.

On how Fofana can earn his place in the team again, Rodgers said: "For me, it’s always about the commitment and when the players are ready to commit to the ethos of the team.

"If they’re not in the right frame of mind, we have to move on. The window will shut and then things will become clearer."

The Foxes have rejected three bids from Chelsea but whether there will be a fourth is not Rodgers' focus.

"It’s not in my concentration," he added. "I can’t lose energy thinking so much about it. It’ll be between the clubs.

"We have to continue to work with what we have.

"We’re looking at a few players leaving in order to bring some in.

"That’s been the model of the club, in terms of releasing funds."

Image source, Getty Images

Brendan Rodgers says Leicester "need to increase the intensity" if they're to turn good performances into points.

Despite not winning a game yet this season, Rodgers remains optimistic that "it's a matter of time," and told the media on Thursday: "What we’ve shown in the Brentford and Southampton games is that we mustn’t stop.

"You have to keep concentrating and we need to increase the intensity."

On whether the results are a reflection of the lack of chances being made by the team, he added: "It’s a bit of everything because you need to have big belief.

"There are things that happen in the game that you can work on, but there are also moments that require intuition.

"We recognise that in the final third of the pitch, we need more speed, more flexibility, and not be so safe. We’ve worked on that.

"I feel we’ve done enough to win games."

Brendan Rodgers has been speaking to the media before Leicester travel to Chelsea on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from the Foxes boss:

• Rodgers said there's an "issue" with James Maddison after feeling a "twinge" in training on Wednesday, but it's too early to make a decision for Saturday's match.

• He confirmed Wesley Fofana won't be available for the game against Chelsea and he has been training with the under-21 squad.

• On the possibility of a fourth bid for the centre-back, he said: "I’m not sure. It’s not my concentration and I can’t lose energy thinking so much about it."

• He said "it's a matter of time" before the Foxes get their first win of the season and added: "What we’ve shown in the Brentford and Southampton games is that we mustn’t stop. You have to keep concentrating."

• On the mood in the camp, he said: "I know there is a lot of noise about what we haven’t done in terms of improving the squad. But we come in to improve and develop, and that won’t change."

• Rodgers said the club are looking at selling "a few players in order to bring some in" but added "everyone knows the situation and, until that changes, we work with what we have."

• On opposition Chelsea, he said: "It's always a tough game, they're a top team. They will be looking for that response from the Leeds game."

Follow Thursday's Premier League manager news conferences here

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Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers says he is delighted to see goalkeeper Daniel Iversen fighting for his starting spot after his penalty heroics on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old saved three shootout spot-kicks on his debut as the Foxes beat Stockport County in the Carabao Cup.

"I’m delighted for him," Rodgers said. "He’s come in and done very well over pre-season, after being out of the club for a few years on loan. He’s come back now, at 25 years of age, and he’s more than capable.

"He’s a fantastic guy. He trains well every day and I have no qualms about putting him in.

"Penalty situations present the chance to be the hero, and he certainly was that for us.

"He’s back at the club, fighting to be the number one Danny Ward clearly is in there - but he’s a very, very capable number two."

Leicester next face Chelsea on Saturday in the Premier League.

Rodgers added: "It’s been a challenging start to this season but we’ll get in and recover. We’ll get some good work in over the next few days and keep smiling. We have to stay positive and look to play a good game on Saturday."

• Chelsea have won two of their past three Premier League games against Leicester, following a six-game run without victory over the Foxes.

• Leicester have won just one of their past 10 league matches at Stamford Bridge, and haven't scored more than once in any of them.

• Chelsea will go into a Premier League match in the bottom half of the table for the first time since September 2020.

• Brendan Rodgers has faced the Blues more times in his managerial career than any other opponent (20) - though he has won only two of those games.

Image source, Leicester City FC

Leicester City have unveiled this season's away kit.

The black shirt features mint green lettering and club crest, with a chequerboard-effect collar and sleeve trim.

Brendan Rodgers' side will wear the kit for the first time in Saturday's trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea.

Chelsea have pulled the plug on their bid to sign French defender Wesley Fofana, 21, after Leicester City rejected a third bid worth £70m including add-ons. (Sun), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Brendan Rodgers says Wesley Fofana was left out of Leicester's squad for their Carabao Cup win over Stockport County because he did not turn up for first-team training last week.

After being dropped for Saturday's defeat by Southampton, the defender was once again absent as the Foxes beat the League Two side on penalties.

Before the game at Edgeley Park, the Foxes turned down a third bid from Chelsea for the Frenchman, believed to be between £60m and £70m.

Rodgers said: "He's training with the under-23s so he can get his football fitness and keep working. It's so important at this stage to control any sort of distractions that may be there.

"He's a good kid, it's just been a really challenging situation for him. I've had it a number of times in my career where there's players who can deal with it, cope with it, get on, want to help their team-mates. There's others that just can't deal with with the distraction.

"Of course that distracts them and it's not quite right, and they miss a training session, then you need the full commitment from your players.

"These guys get well paid. The very least you can do is turn up. And if you don't, with all due respect, you can't then just think you can walk into our group.

"But like I say, within day to day, he's a good kid - it's just been hard for him to deal with everything, and whilst he's in that frame of mind, it's been difficult for him to play."

Chris Forryan, Leicester Till I Die, external

Roll back the clock some 35 months to 25 October 2019, a wet Friday night on the south coast. It was just eight months into the new Leicester manager's tenure and things were looking up.

Brendan Rodgers had won everything in the Scottish Premiership. But hang on, that was as Celtic boss so you have to evaluate his success without green-tinted spectacles on.

Leicester beat Southampton 9-0 that night and would spend 37 gameweeks in the top four, ultimately finishing fifth and qualifying for Europe. The following season, they again finished fifth, qualified for Europe and won the FA Cup. And then won the Community Shield.

We played a 4-1-4-1 at St Mary's in 2019 - and yes, we did buy two of the defenders that played for Southampton in that game.

Of that team that rolled the Saints over - not including subs - Jonny Evans, Wilfried Ndidi, Ayoze Perez, Youri Tielemans, James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Jamie Vardy played on Saturday against the same opposition. Four more were on the bench and unused.

With virtually the same squad and the same manager, you have to ask what has gone wrong. Is a refresh needed? Definitely, but where?

More and more fans are asking for a refresh at the top, with two out of three fans wanting Rodgers out in a poll taken by Leicester Till I Die after the game.

In the bottom three, losing to a side who hadn’t won in nine and displaying relegation form. Last time we were this low down the table, we sacked the then manager: a certain Claudio Ranieri.

Leicester City have been linked with Arsenal's Ivory Coast winger Nicolas Pepe, with the Gunners eyeing Wolves' Pedro Neto as a replacement. (Times - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

We asked for your views following Leicester City's loss to Southampton at King Power Stadium on Saturday.

Here are some of your thoughts:

Stuart: Why is Rodgers not playing Caglar Soyuncu? As much as I like Daniel Amartey, Caglar has to be first choice over him. Also, Ayoze Perez in the starting line-up is an absolute joke - he has very rarely ever played well for us, which is why we are trying to get rid of him! We have very good players on the bench who are not getting a look in under Rodgers. Why?

George: We're not playing to our strengths - no-one running at defenders, no-one finding space, no commitment and no momentum. No wonder our better players want to leave. If the manager is incapable of changing the system, he should do no more moaning about lack of fresh players. Light a fire underneath the ones you have.

Roy: First half, we dominated the game. Second half, after the goal, we dropped back and let Southampton dominate. Their two goals were well deserved as we just didn't seem to have a clue how to counter Southampton's hold on the game after half-time.

Dino: Good start and deserved to go 1-0 up. But then, for some reason, we stopped playing. Don’t understand taking Jamie Vardy off because he is more likely to get you a goal than anyone. James Maddison showed some fight. Everyone needs to stick together. Trust the owners.

Watch all the highlights from Saturday's six matches in the Premier League on BBC iPlayer here.

And if you missed Match of the Day 2 with Mark Chapman on Sunday, it's right here.

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Owynn Palmer-Atkin, BBC Radio Leicester

Jamie Vardy's new contract will extend his stay at King Power Stadium until at least the summer of 2024 and is a one-year extension on his current deal.

Come the end of this one, City’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer will be 37, which could indicate this will be the striker's final contract at the club.

Since joining for a non-league record of £1m in 2012, Vardy has written himself into Leicester City folklore by winning the Premier League, FA Cup, Community Shield and Championship, while scoring more than 150 goals for the Foxes.

He has hit 133 of those in the Premier League, leaving him 14th in the all-time scorers' list, and has become the player who’s scored the most goals in the top flight after turning 30.

Throw in the fact he holds the record for games consecutively scored in (11) – and there’s no question that Jamie Vardy is one of the best strikers to ever grace the Premier League.

He’s come a long way since nearly quitting the game to become a holiday rep after struggling to settle into professional football in the Championship.

Next on his to-do list though will be to break into the top 10 all-time Premier League goalscorers. To do that, he’ll have to score another 18 goals over the next two seasons to surpass Michael Owen’s 150.

Regardless, he’s already a Leicester City legend, a Premier League star and one of the most potent finishers to ever grace our game.

That legacy and reputation will only continue to grow until the summer of 2024.

Was extending Vardy's deal the right move? Let us know here

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