Leicester City

Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans has said he doesn't know what's in store for him in the summer but would love to stay with the Foxes amid rumours Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are keen on the young Belgian.

The on-loan starlet spoke to Sky Sports, saying it's unclear to him what will happen once his loan deal expires:

"I do not know what is going to happen this summer. I feel really good here, but I have to see the other options too. That is normal, and I do not have to rush myself.

"We are now in April and we will see over the next months.

"At Leicester, I can be part of something great. They will have a new training ground, the stadium will be much better than it is now with more fans coming over.

"So it can be something great for the future."

Manager Brendan Rodgers also addressed Tielemans' future, per TalkSport's Josh Fordham, saying the Foxes will speak to his parent club, AS Monaco, and praising the 21-year-old's tremendous talent:

"It's always difficult because he is a Monaco player. I'm sure there will be discussions between the clubs―he is a wonderful talent.

"I think you can see he is clearly an outstanding young player. He has a terrific view of the game, for someone who is just 21 he has tremendous maturity. The thing is with him, he is only going to get better."

According to Fordham, both United and Spurs have taken note of his incredible run of form since he completed his loan switch in January, and they could be in on the former Anderlecht man in the summer.

Sportswriter John Bennett assumes there will be quite the battle to land him once the season is over:

Another great afternoon in a Leicester City shirt for Youri Tielemans... He has needed absolutely no time to adapt to the Premier League.

Bidding war in the summer no doubt.

— John Bennett (@JohnBennettBBC) March 30, 2019

Tielemans has made a phenomenal start to life in the Premier League.

His development had stalled at Monaco, where he fell out with manager Leonardo Jardim and was one of the victims of the club's struggles the last two seasons. Leicester took a chance on the youngster, and it's paid off, as he has flashed all of the world-class potential that prompted the French side to invest in him.

According to WhoScored.com, he ranks among Europe's best under-21 players this season, a remarkable achievement considering his poor form in Monaco during the first half of the campaign:

.@LCFC midfielder Youri Tielemans moves into the top 10 U21 player form rankings after a fine display in a 2-0 win over Bournemouth

Read @martinlaurence7's article now -- https://t.co/ZJeZAk7fHV pic.twitter.com/BEGApx0cGV

— WhoScored (@WhoScored) April 2, 2019

But while his excellent form has been great news for Leicester, it also means they'll face a real battle to land him on a permanent deal in the summer. Bigger clubs with deeper pockets will be in the mix, and it might be hard to convince the talented midfielder to turn down such opportunities.

One advantage is the presence of Rodgers, who Tielemans praised in his interview, and the familiarity the player has with Leicester. After his struggles in Monaco, he may opt to stick with the Foxes a little longer, rather than risk another setback elsewhere.     

Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers' East Dunbartonshire home in Scotland was burgled in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Per BBC News, a spokesperson for Police Scotland said: "At around 01:55 on Wednesday 6 March, police received a report of a break-in at a property in Bearsden. No one was injured in the incident but a number of items were stolen from the property."

Police confirmed they have launched an investigation into the burglary.

Rodgers lived in East Dunbartonshire while manager of Celtic in nearby Glasgow, but he departed to replace Claude Puel at the King Power Stadium in late February.

According to Sky Sports News, Rodgers' wife, Charlotte Searle, and step-daughter, Lola, were in the home at the time of the break-in.

The pair were said to be "badly shaken" by the events, which saw them seek shelter in a bathroom after they were confronted in the master bedroom by two men carrying torches.

Sky Sports' Keith Downie relayed further details of the burglary:

This is awful for Brendan Rodgers & his family. The stolen boxes are also thought to contain a host of his personal belongings including most of the medals and trophies won during his three years at Celtic Park. https://t.co/UWW3ycAAUQ

— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) March 6, 2019

Rodgers won back-to-back domestic trebles with Celtic and was on course to deliver a third in consecutive seasons. Celtic are 12 points clear in the Scottish Premiership and remain in the Scottish Cup, having already won the Scottish League Cup.

However, the timing of his departure has not sat well with many Celtic fans:

"You traded immortality for mediocrity. Never a Celt. Always a fraud."

Celtic fans had a strong message for Brendan Rodgers after he left the club to join Leicester City 👀 pic.twitter.com/6weLme7L25

— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) February 27, 2019

Rodgers signed a three-year deal with the Foxes after Puel was shown the exit door with the team 12th in the Premier League.

The Northern Irishman oversaw a 2-1 defeat at Watford in his first match in charge. His first home game will come on Saturday against Fulham.

Manchester United could rekindle their interest in Leicester City defender Harry Maguire this summer, according to new Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers.

The Red Devils reportedly tracked the England international during Jose Mourinho's tenure at Old Trafford and, despite his exit, might attempt to sign the 26-year-old at the end of the campaign.

Speaking to the Rob Tanner of the Leicester Mercury, Rodgers said he expects offers for his greatest talents, including his prized centre-back: "They may well come in. But it doesn't worry me. I think all you can worry is that you make the team the very best they can be. You always have to be prepared for that moment as a club. It happens. But at this moment in time, I'm thinking about the team and making the best that we can."

Maguire was one of England's stars as the Three Lions reached the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia last summer.

The centre-back came up through hometown club Sheffield United and Hull City before transferring to the King Power Stadium in 2017 after the Tigers were relegated.

Maguire has been a regular with the Foxes since, and he surprised many with his composed performances in the Premier League and on the international stage.

The player previously featured under current United assistant manager Mike Phelan during his spell in charge at Hull. Phelan rejoined the Red Devils after the interim managerial appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in December.

Rodgers added he admirers Maguire and lauded his ability and skill set, per Tanner: "He can step in, but firstly, he can defend. He wins his headers, very powerful, he's brave, he gets blocks in. But the type of game I have always promoted, they need to have some comfort on the ball at the back, and he can step in, make passes, so he's a big talent."

Leicester sit 11th in the Premier League after former Celtic and Liverpool manager Rodgers took control of the first team from Claude Puel.

The Foxes were erratic under the Frenchman, often performing admirably against big sides but falling short when playing their league contemporaries.

Retaining Maguire could be difficult for Rodgers if a major club chases his signature. United are still missing a partner for Victor Lindelof at the back, and the Foxes defender could be a suitable option once the summer transfer window opens.

Kris Commons thinks Brendan Rodgers might view Leicester City as a stepping stone to bigger jobs in the Premier League.

Former Celtic midfielder Commons mentioned London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea as the possible next destinations for Rodgers. The latter was officially announced as the Foxes' new manager on Tuesday, per the club's official website, after stepping down from his role with the Hoops.

However, Commons, who made 147 appearances for the club but whose tenure soon ended after Rodgers' appointment, told Sky Sports News that the Northern Ireland native can do better:

"Leicester have got a top coach - a proven manager - but I think Brendan's better than Leicester. I think he proved that at Liverpool and he proved that at Celtic."

"It wasn't so long ago he was linked with the Arsenal job, and I think that's the sort of thing that Brendan wants. He wants to be winning titles. Whether this is a stepping stone, a couple-year job, (before) he looks at the likes of Arsenal, or maybe a Chelsea - I think that's more in Rodgers' mind right now."

Rodgers was one of the names linked with the Gunners as a possible replacement for Arsene Wenger last summer. Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri is under pressure after falling to sixth in the league and losing in the FA Cup and in the Carabao Cup final.

Commons has touched on a difficult distinction by placing Celtic above Leicester. In one way it's an easy argument since Celtic are a regular participant in the UEFA Champions League.

The Hoops' place at Europe's top tournament is assured by their dominance of the Scottish Premiership. Improving things domestically is close to impossible for any Celtic manager, although Rodgers has done his best to try.

He won the domestic treble in each of his first two seasons, even putting together an incredible 69-match unbeaten run. Yet a lack of regular and credible competition is always going to undermine, not entirely fairly, those achievements.

👔 @LCFC confirm the appointment of Brendan Rodgers as their new manager.

📊 @CelticFC Record:

🏟 169 Games
✅ 118 Wins
🤝 25 Draws
❌ 26 Defeats

3 🏆🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scottish League Cup
2 🏆🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scottish Premiership
2 🏆🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scottish Cup

✅ 2016/17 @SPFL Invincibles.
✅ Double Treble Winner pic.twitter.com/m2GIHJftyp

— SPORF (@Sporf) February 26, 2019

It means achieving success in Europe is how most Celtic bosses can earn respect. Sadly, such success has eluded Rodgers, who has failed to get his team past the group stage of the Champions League.

He's also hit trouble in the UEFA Europa League, losing to Zenit St. Petersburg in the first stage of the knockout phase last season. Things haven't gone better in this campaign, with Celtic comprehensively beaten by Valencia in the round of 32.

However, it's debatable the expectations will be anywhere near as high at Leicester, even though the Foxes memorably won the league title in 2016. As impressive as this accomplishment was, it represented a true Cinderella story, very much the exception rather than the norm for the club.

Finishing seventh or eighth would be considered a terrific season for the Foxes, who started the week in 12th place, under normal circumstances. Yet the shock title win and subsequent but brief exposure to the Champions League have raised the bar to unfamiliar levels.

It's why Claudio Ranieri, Craig Shakespeare and Claude Puel have failed to last as manager. Rodgers avoiding a similar fate will hinge on his ability to get key players on his side.

Among them, striker Jamie Vardy will need to be placated after reportedly clashing repeatedly with Puel.

Rodgers may have more credibility with senior members of the squad after coming close to title glory with Liverpool during the 2013/14 season. An attacking Reds team finished second to Manchester City in a tight title race.

Leicester's squad features gifted and forward-thinking players who fit his expansive style of play. No. 10 James Maddison, raiding left-back Ben Chilwell and winger Demarai Gray should all thrive in a system based on pace, perception and possession.

Rodgers used those qualities to achieve a level of success with both Swansea City and Liverpool. Yet despite reaching greater heights in Glasgow, Rodgers still has a lot to do to convince people he can manage one of the top six in England again.

His inability to adequately replace Luis Suarez at Liverpool, as well as the failure to bring elusive European success to Celtic, mean the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal should take a lukewarm wait-and-see approach to how Rodgers fares in his third Premier League job.

Leicester City sacked Claude Puel on Sunday following Saturday's 4-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace.

The Foxes announced the news via Twitter:

Leicester City Football Club has today (Sunday) parted company with Claude Puel, who leaves his position as First Team Manager with immediate effect.https://t.co/VoZnGBJ8Up

— Leicester City (@LCFC) February 24, 2019

Puel leaves Leicester 12th in the Premier League, having lost five of their past six league matches.

The 57-year-old replaced Craig Shakespeare in October 2017, with the club 14th in the table but just one point above the relegation zone.

He guided Leicester to a ninth-placed finish, but they picked up just three wins in their final 14 matches of the campaign.

Despite recording surprise victories against Chelsea and Manchester City in December, the Foxes have shown little improvement this season, and they were knocked out of the FA Cup by League Two's Newport County.

OptaJoe put Puel's record at the King Power Stadium in context:

70 - Leicester City won 70 points in 56 games under Claude Puel in the Premier League (1.25 per game); which was fewer than 10 clubs in the competition since his appointment, including Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Burnley (all 71 points). Departure. pic.twitter.com/TtUgPsulH0

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 24, 2019

While Leicester—despite their fairytale title win in 2015/16—can realistically only aim to finish seventh, they are being comfortably outperformed by several teams around them.

Puel's sacking came as little surprise to the Daily Mail's Oliver Holt on Sunday Supplement:

https://twitter.com/SundaySupp/status/1099632955838922753

TalkSport's Geoff Peters also observed the manager's difficulty in connecting with supporters:

Puel never really connected with #lcfc fans. They rarely sang his name. He was guilty of doing little to create a bond. The team often played in his style – dour, uninspiring. Nobody wants a rent-a-quote clown in charge but you need someone to inspire and lead from the front.

— Mr Geoff Peters (@mrgeoffpeters) February 24, 2019

Puel has left Leicester eight points clear of the drop, but they are equally far away from Watford in seventh place, so his replacement will likely be content to finish in the top half this season.

There's plenty to work with at the King Power Stadium, though. In the likes of Jamie Vardy, Kasper Schmeichel and Jonny Evans they have title-winning experience, while the squad is packed with young talent in Ben Chilwell, Demarai Gray, James Maddison, Wilfred Ndidi and others.

A top-six finish next season would still be a big ask, but the Foxes could achieve much more than a bottom-half finish.