James Maddison was a man in demand this summer but will remain a Leicester City player until at least the new year. Newcastle United failed with two bids for the in-form playmaker who has now entered the final two years of his contract.
Brendan Rodgers cut a frustrated figure in the transfer market in recent weeks, with the Foxes opting to rein in their spending this season. Reims defender Wout Faes was the club's first outfield signing and arrived on deadline day following the £70 million departure of Wesley Fofana to Chelsea.
The centre-back follows in the footsteps of the likes of former Leicester stars N'Golo Kante, Harry Maguire, and Riyad Mahrez in leaving for a 'Big Six' club. Maddison's form and contract status has led many to predict the 25-year-old could be the next big name to leave the Foxes along with Youri Tielemans.
Leicester's lack of transfer activity has been compounded by a poor start to the season, with Rodgers' side sat bottom of the Premier League following Thursday night's home defeat to Manchester United. The Foxes also narrowly avoided a shock Carabao Cup exit after being taken to a penalty shootout by League Two outfit Stockport County.
Maddison's future and the challenge facing the one-cap England international and his manager was put under the spotlight by the BT Sport panel ahead of kick-off against the Red Devils. Here is everything host Jake Humphrey and pundits Rio Ferdinand, Owen Hargreaves and Robbie Savage had to say on the next step for Leicester and their number 10.
RS: The big thing now for Brendan Rodgers as we said earlier, when the transfer window closes tonight is that man James Maddison. He's been linked with clubs like Newcastle, as a football player you have to motivate yourself.
Leicester are bottom of the league, James Maddison is instrumental in everything quality Leicester do going forward. Set-pieces with his delivery and his goal involvements...now Fofana goes.
JH: You mean he's seeing all of these players leave?
RS: Yeah, as a player if I'm linked with other clubs, I'd be thinking to myself hang on, he's gone. I'll do my best while I'm here because you can't go anywhere now until January. Brendan Rodgers now has to motivate him.
RF: I think Brendan Rodgers and his staff have a job to do in making sure he remains motivated for Leicester City, but also as a player in having personal pride in your performance. This downing tools talk that you hear, people do that when they haven't got pride and they haven't got the right materials within themselves.
You've got to have the right mentality to go you know what, my levels won't drop. There'll be another opportunity in another five or six months with the next window, or in a year's time. I have to remain at a certain level that's got to me a point where teams are calling me.
OH: His levels won't drop. I mean, he got 18 goals and eight assists last season and he's got a World Cup to look forward to. Brendan Rodgers, Fofana, Maddison, all their goals are similarly aligned.
They all see themselves as Champions League players and managers, and obviously with Fofana jumping ship, Brendan and James Maddison will be assessing the situation in the next six months to a year. If he has another season like he did last season, James Maddison won't be here because he's playing at a level which is elite.
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