Rodgers Delighted With Trio Of New Deals
- Wes Morgan, Christian Fuchs and Eldin Jakupović have signed new one-year contracts
- The deals will keep the players at King Power Stadium until next summer
- Rodgers says he is delighted to continue working with them
- He believes their attitude on and off the field has been first-class
Rodgers was full of praise for Wes Morgan, Christian Fuchs and Eldin Jakupović when speaking to the media in his virtual pre-match press conference on Thursday.
The trio have put pen to paper on new one-year deals ahead of Saturday's behind-closed-doors return to league action at Watford, which will see them extend their stay at the Football Club until June 2021.
“The contribution [from the three players] since I’ve come in has been outstanding in different ways, both in terms of playing and obviously off the field,” the Northern Irishman said.
“It’s so important that you have a strong spirit as a club and that you’ve got outstanding senior professionals and those three guys come into that bracket.
“I’m absolutely delighted that all three agreed, delighted they’re going to be a part of the remainder of this season and following into next and I really look forward to working with them again.”
Morgan, 36, captained Leicester to the Premier League title in 2016 and has played 310 times for the Club since signing from Nottingham Forest in 2012.
Next season will be his 10th as a Leicester City player, in a career which has also included a Championship title and leading the Foxes out for a Champions League Quarter-Final.
“Wes speaks for himself,” Rodgers added about City’s Club captain.
“Whenever and wherever he’s played for me, he’s been absolutely top class and obviously this season he’s taken more of a role on the substitutes bench, but he’s still instrumental and absolutely vital for the spirit of this Club.
“That honesty and that leadership that he gives is absolutely crucial.”
Austrian international Fuchs also played a big part in the title winning season after joining on a free transfer, featuring 34 times to help City to a first top-flight title in the Club’s history.
A further 98 appearances in all competitions, including impressive performances in the Premier League and Champions League, have endeared him to the Blue Army, while Rodgers is impressed by his fitness and application on the training pitch.
Rodgers continued: “Christian (Fuchs) is still really, really fit and knows what his role is, can play in a number of positions and again sets the tone with his professionalism every single day.
“[He’s a] huge personality, great professional and ready if called upon, so he’s done great.”
Shot-stopper Jakupović is into his third season at the Club after joining from Hull City and has always been ready and is a valued member of the first team squad, according to Rodgers.
He added: “Eldin maybe hasn’t played so much but he’s very, very important to the dynamic of the squad and in particular around the goalkeepers and he’s also one that I know, when I need to use him, I can play him.”