Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers eyeing Joe Worrall – but defender will stay at Nottingham Forest if they are promoted
LEICESTER are checking on Joe Worrall with mixed feelings as Nottingham Forest attempt a return to the Premier League.
Brendan Rodgers wants to see the centre-back do well as he sizes him up for a summer bid to sort out his leaky defence.
But if Forest, who beat Sheffield United 2-1 yesterday, make it through the play-offs then Worrall, 25, is likely to stay to fulfil his dream of playing in the top flight.
If they fail, Forest know a player or two will have to be sold — and both Worrall and Brennan Johnson would bring in the cash needed to balance the books.
Elsewhere at the club, SunSport revealed Arsenal are closing in on a £40million deal for midfielder Youri Tielemans.
But Real Madrid would be waiting to pounce on the Belgian midfielder should the Gunners fail to qualify for the Champions League.
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However there is growing confidence from the player’s camp and the Emirates club that Tielemans will be an Arsenal player next season.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta wants to boost the quality and depth of his midfield options this summer.
Tielemans would be an upgrade on both Granit Xhaka, whose future at the Emirates is uncertain, and Mohamed Elneny, with his contract expiring this summer.
Leicester are all but resigned to selling the man whose goal won them the FA Cup last season.
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Tielemans, 25, has turned down offers of a new contract and his current deal has just over a year to run.
The Foxes would rather cash in now, than risk losing the player for nothing.
Manchester United were also strongly linked with Tielemans but their chances of winning the race to sign him have faded as their challenge for a top-four place flopped.