Leicester ready to break the bank to keep Rodgers away from Arsenal

Leicester City are reportedly set to offer manager Brendan Rodgers a bumper new contract to ward off interest from Arsenal.

Leicester remain Liverpool’s closest rivals for the Premier League title after they defeated Watford 2-0 at the King Power Stadium on Wednesday night – a club record-equalling seventh successive league win.

Although former Liverpool boss Rodgers refused to entertain talk of the title after the game in his press conference, the Foxes remain eight points behind the leaders with the two sides meeting at the King Power on Boxing Day.

Rodgers has been linked with succeeding Unai Emery at Arsenal, although the Daily Mirror reported that Arsenal’s board accepts luring Rodgers away from Leicester will ‘prove extremely difficult’.

Still, Leicester have been proactive, and according to Transfer Window podcast host Ian McGarry, a new deal is in the pipeline for Rodgers.

“Leicester City are planning to offer Brendan Rodgers a new contract, an extended contract on better terms amid interest from Arsenal who have been pursuing the possibility of succeding Unai Emery at the Emirates,” said McGarry.

He only arrived from Celtic in February and his current salary is around £5million a year, but per the source, the Northern Irishman could double his earnings if he signs it.

That would make Rodgers, 46, the third highest paid boss in the league behind Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho.

The former Celtic boss’ deal at the King Power Stadium contains a release clause which the Gunners are apparently willing to activate, but asked whether he was staying after the weekend Rodgers was unequivocal.

“Yeah, very much so,” he told BBC Radio 5Live.

He continued: “It doesn’t annoy me. I don’t think so much about it. It’s not in my control.”