Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers is eager for Champions League qualification - so he can increase his transfer budget.

Going into Monday's clash with struggling Aston Villa, Rodgers' men are third in the table with a two-point cushion to fourth-placed Chelsea.

Rodgers said: "Hopefully by the end of the season, that will be the case. Each year you want to improve.

"There's no doubt that's what our aim would be. We're working virtually with a similar squad, by the end of the season, for near on 18 months, so you need to refresh it, you need to keep looking to raise the bar.

"That sort of plan is under way. I think the key now is to finish the job and give everything to get to where we want to at the end of the season, and then we can look at that."