Wesley Fofana punished by Brendan Rodgers for trying to force Chelsea transfer

Leicester City's Wesley Fofana is being forced to train with the club's U23s after missing a first-team session after Chelsea saw a third transfer offer rejected for the defender.

The Foxes are looking to retain their star centre-bacl, who spent much of last season out injured, but prior to that had been a leading light as they claimed FA Cup glory. Fofana has been the subject of bids from the Blues, which appears to have turned his head as the transfer window nears its closure.

Brendan Rodgers saw Fofana fail to turn up for a training session last week with the 21-year-old being reprimanded as a result. The Leicester boss confirmed a third bid from Chelsea has been rejected as he seeks a swift resolution to the situation, which has been dragging on.

Chelsea are looking to bolster their backline after seeing both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen leave for nothing in the summer. It has left them light of options with Kalidou Koulibaly their only recruit in that area. The capture of Fofana would therefore be a coup for Thomas Tuchel.

"I know football and how it works," Rodgers has said on the player's situation. "It's an amazing profession. It's a business for clubs, for players it's a dream.

"They're trying to fulfil their dreams. So I understand it for both, it's why I provide the bridge in terms of trying to advise him what's the best way to behave."

The Northern Irishman also added: "The reality for a club like ours is you can't be afraid to do that as long as it's good business for the club, and if it's good for the player it's normally a win-win situation. But that decision then will be ultimately down to the feeling of the club."

Rodgers, during his Leicester tenure, has already had to replace the likes of Maguire and Ben Chilwell, who both moved on for big money. Current talisman Youri Tielemans is also being linked with the exit door whilst James Maddison is also the subject of interest.

Leicester have endured a quiet transfer window when it comes to arrivals, which has been a source of frustration. Goalkeeper Alex Smithies is the only new face - and he arrived on a free. Kasper Schmeichel, a huge figure at the King Power Stadium, left this summer to join French side Nice.