Leicester transfer news: Youri Tielemans is a top priority, says Brendan Rodgers after thrashing of Arsenal

Rodgers: 'There are things he can’t do but he’s paid to create and score and he’s doing that very well'

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers insists the club will pull out all the stops to sign Youri Tielemans, aftter the Monaco loanee impressed again and scored his third goal of the season in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Arsenal.

Midfielder Tielemans joined until the end of the season from the Stade Louis II in January with Adrien Silva moving in the opposite direction. Leicester do not have an option to buy the 21-year-old but after his third goal in 11 games, Rodgers confirmed they will try.

He said: “There will be dialogue between the clubs. He’s clearly a player we would like to work with and I understand the fans enjoy watching a player like that.

“I’m sure the club will do everything they possibly can to bring him in. There are things he can’t do but he’s paid to create and score and he’s doing that very well. It’s important that you have players that are hungry to score and Youri has got that.”

Jamie Vardy’s late brace added to Tielemans’ second-half header after Ainsley Maitland-Niles was dismissed nine minutes before the break following two bookings.

Leicester moved up to eighth, three points behind Wolves, and seventh could still earn a Europa League qualifying spot if Watford lose the FA Cup final to Manchester City.

A third straight defeat kept Arsenal fifth and they are two points behind Chelsea in the battle for the top four. Their Champions League hopes are in the balance and winning the Europa League could be the Gunners’ best hope of returning to the elite competition.

They host Valencia in the first leg of their semi-final on Thursday.

“We have two things – next week against Valencia in the Europa League, we have big ambition and motivation in this competition,” said boss Unai Emery. “It’s a semi-final and it’s going to be difficult also, then we play Brighton and we want to win this match.

“At the beginning of the season we knew it was going to be difficult (to finish in the top four) and now it is the same.”

PA