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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."

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West Ham United manager David Moyes pictured on February 27, 2021
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Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City33245469244577
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd331910464352967
3Leicester CityLeicester32185958372159
4Chelsea331610751312058
5West Ham UnitedWest Ham331671053431055
6Liverpool33159955391654
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs331581056381853
8Everton32157104440452
9Leeds UnitedLeeds33145145050047
10Arsenal33137134437746
11Aston Villa32136134637945
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves33118143245-1341
13Crystal Palace31108133352-1938
14Burnley3399153045-1536
15Southampton32106164058-1836
16Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3399153654-1836
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton33713133339-634
18Fulham33512162543-1827
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom33510183064-3425
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3352261856-3817

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