Brendan Rodgers sends decisive transfer message to Newcastle United as third James Maddison bid is considered

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has insisted Newcastle United transfer target James Maddison is ‘not for sale’.

The Magpies were reported to have lodged two unsuccessful bids in the region of £40million for the Foxes star earlier this week.

It is believed the United hierarchy are considering a third offer that would surpass the club record transfer set when the Magpies handed over £40million to Hoffenheim to secure the services of Joelinton just over three years ago.

Rodgers remains the only Premier League manager not have added to his squad during the summer transfer window and there has been speculation the former Celtic boss needs to sell before he can move onto new signings.

Long-serving goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel departed for Ligue 1 club Nice in a deal believed to be around £1million earlier this week.

Magpies target Maddison is not the only Foxes star said to be attracting interest from a Premier League club with Chelsea said to be keen on a move for French defender Wesley Fofana.

However, Rodgers is adamant neither player will leave the club and revealed both Maddison and Fofana are ‘working very hard’ to be ready for the new Premier League season.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, the Foxes boss said: “I hope we want to keep them and I’ve mentioned before and I’ll repeat, these players are not for sale.

“They are very important players for us.

“Obviously, there is a situation at the club where we need to move some players out but there it is not getting rid of anyone and everyone, especially our best assets.

“I’ve said it before, you don’t want to lose your top players and this is something that the club are very strong on.

“So at this moment in time, the guys you mention, certainly James and Wesley are training very well, working very hard and getting ready for our game on Sunday.”

Leicester have a recent record of securing big money from sales of key players in recent years.

Harry Maguire’s move to Manchester United in 2019 netted the Foxes around £78million and their coffers were swelled by over £60million when Riyad Mahrez joined Manchester City 12 months earlier.

And Chelsea handed over around £111million to secure Foxes trio Danny Drinkwater, Ngolo Kante and Ben Chilwell between 2016 and 2020.

Rodgers seemed to suggest only a significant bid for Maddison or Fofana would tempt the Foxes hierarchy into allowing another star player to depart this summer.

When asked if a sizeable offer could lead to a deal, he said: “That would be up to the club.

“The club have been very standard in their work in that aspect of the market.

“So, for me, I’m football and I will concentrate on, whilst they are here, any player is here to improve and help the team.”

Leicester get their Premier League season underway when they host Brentford on Sunday afternoon.