Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers says he expects to oversee a squad clearout next summer.
ith seven players out of contract next summer, and more space on the wage bill, City will have room to manoeuvre. Jonny Evans, Youri Tielemans, Caglar Soyuncu, Ayoze Perez, Daniel Amartey, Papy Mendy, and Ryan Bertrand are all in their final year of their deals, and while not all of them will leave, most are expected to.
“There's definitely that possibility without doubt," Rodgers said when asked if he could reshape the squad next summer. “That's something in any team or club you have to constantly evolve that.
“Come next summer there will be the opportunity to do that, but the focus is on the players we have here. Day by day, let's get the work in, bring energy to the team and get results."
Rodgers has also explained that players take notice of a club's transfer activity and that they want to represent a side that shows their intentions to improve. With the club not doing so this summer, the manager set a 40-point target, but he says that was not a negative viewpoint.
“When I came through this door there was certainly no lack of ambition, but I'm also a realist," he added. “That's not being defeatist or not having confidence in the players, it's trying to set an expectation and a reality of where we've been at and how the market was really difficult for us, and assessing and observing the other teams' improvements.
“Forest have spent £150m on new players. When we were nowhere near that market, that tells you. Players see that as well and also we see where the squad is at.
“Football players look to see because they want to play in the best teams they can play in. Of course, everyone here has huge respect for the club and ownership. But that's what the feeling can be if I'm a player. You want to play in the best team you can.
“Building on success is the most difficult thing in football. Especially when you are limited to what you can bring in. Of course, then when you virtually can't bring in anything, that makes it even more difficult. However, that's the challenge and was always going to be for this season."
