Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has sent a clear message to Chelsea over their rumoured pursuit of young centre-back Wesley Fofana.
Despite the addition of Kalidou Koulibaly earlier this summer, the west Londoners have been looking to add another top-class central defender to their ranks.
Thomas Tuchel attempted to lure Matthijs de Ligt to Stamford Bridge, but he opted to join Bayern Munich instead, while the year-long pursuit of Jules Kounde saw the Frenchman opt to join Barcelona.
Chelsea have now gone back to the drawing board and are preparing moves for Fofana and Josko Gvardiol – though both players would command enormous price tags.
Fofana enjoyed a superb maiden campaign in the Premier League but spent most of last season on the sidelines, though such is Leicester’s belief in the youngster he was handed a new long-term contract.
And Rodgers – who previously worked as a coach at Chelsea – says the Foxes have no intention of allowing the 21-year-old to leave the King Power Stadium.
Asked about the speculation surrounding his young defender, Rodgers replied: ‘Naturally, he’s a top talent.
‘He’s not for sale. He still has lots of improvements to make. He’s very happy here, he really enjoys being here.
‘Naturally he will attract the interest of other clubs. Our job, in not signing anyone so far, is to at least keep the players we have. I know that’s the intention of the club.’
Fofana came off at half-time in Leicester’s final pre-season friendly before the new Premier League campaign kicks off next week – a 1-0 win over Sevilla – though Rodgers insists it was just a precaution.
The Leicester boss explained: ‘It was just making sure with him. He’s had a slight groin issue the last couple of days but felt he was okay to play.
‘This was a game we just needed to get him through and then get him off.
‘Psychologically it was a huge blow for him and for us last season [when he suffered his injury against Villarreal]. The idea was to get him the minutes, get him off safe, and then he can move on.’
Leicester are yet to make a signing this summer and are believed to need to sell before they can buy, though they will resist offers for their key players with an approach from Newcastle for James Maddison also rebuffed.
