Leicester City will make a new contract for Caglar Soyuncu a priority alongside renewing Liverpool targets Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemans’ deals, according to The Athletic.
The Foxes are close to agreeing terms on an extension with Barnes in an attempt to deter any potential suitor with a big asking price. Brendan Rodgers’ side are also increasingly confident that Tielemans will follow the Englishman in putting pen to paper soon.
Barnes is on the verge of agreeing a new, four-year contract with Leicester, with only a few final details left to sort. Liverpool will be monitoring for any late hiccups, as The Athletic note the Reds hold concrete interest in the 23-year-old.
Jurgen Klopp also admires Tielemans, but The Telegraph report Liverpool cannot afford to pay Leicester’s asking price this summer. The Athletic note the Foxes offered to make the 24-year-old one of their top-earners at the end of last season. Talks have continued with the Belgian’s representatives, too, but he has also assessed all of his alternative options.
Leicester want to extend Tielemans’ contract as, like Soyuncu, he only has two years left on his current terms. Kasper Schmeichel, Jamie Vardy, Jonny Evans, Ayoze Perez and Ricardo Pereira are also in the final 24-months of their deals.
The Foxes will make Soyuncu a priority for new terms once talks with Tielemans and Barnes reach a satisfactory stage. The 25-year-old has proven to be a favourite of Rodgers since replacing Claude Puel at the King Power Stadium helm.
Soyuncu has started 53 of his 57 Premier League appearances under Rodgers from a possible 60 squads, outside of injuries and suspensions, over the previous two full seasons. He also opened the Foxes’ curtain-raiser against Wolves on Saturday, which they won 1-0.
Leicester move to deny suitors deal for Soyuncu with new contract
Like Tielemans and Barnes, Leicester will move to deny any potential suitor a deal for Soyuncu with a new contract. The Turkish centre-half has caught the eye of several top clubs with his performances since moving to the East Midlands.
Reports by Ajansspor earlier in the summer claimed Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona all admire Soyuncu. Pep Guardiola, in particular, was allegedly driving the Citizens’ interest, although he is close friends with their midfielder, Ilkay Gundogan.
Leicester should not need to worry about an approach this summer, but may in the future. Especially if Soyuncu continues to eat into the final two years of his contract without new terms on the horizon. And if he continues to live up to the standards Rodgers expects.
“When you work closely with him, you see his quality,” Rodgers said, via EuroNews. “He had big boots to fill [after Harry Maguire left] and he’s been very good. For a modern-day centre back, he’s exactly what you want.”
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