Brendan Rodgers responds after Aston Villa linked with £50m Leicester City transfer

Brendan Rodgers says Leicester City star Wilfred Ndidi is "worth much more" than £50million after Aston Villa were linked with a blockbusting move for the midfielder this summer.

According to reports, Villa are said to be seriously interested in the Foxes ace as they look to beef up their midfield options this summer.

Villa are eager to sign a defensive midfielder having seen a £25m bid for Brighton's Yves Bissouma rejected in the January transfer window.

Now it is being suggested that Ndidi could be an alternative with a £50m price tag being quoted by several media outlets.

But asked whether it was nice to have a £50m player in the squad ahead of their Europa Conference clash against Randers, Leicester boss Rodgers said: "He's worth much more than that."

Ndidi said he was happy at Leicester earlier today (Wednesday) but Rodgers accepted that his performances for the club would always lead to interest.

Responding to a question as to whether he could sell such a player to refinance the squad or whether he was a bedrock in terms of building a team for the future, Rodgers said: "It's both of those things, it's how it works isn't it.

"A player of that quality with that mentality, of course, you always want to keep.

"But when you have that player he will always attract that interest.

"But he seems very settled here and I know he's moved into a new house over this last period and seems very, very happy.

"He's a pleasure to work with, a good guy and hopefully he can be around the club for many, many years."

Ndidi has made 24 appearances for Leicester this season with the Nigerian international having also been on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

And Rodgers emphasised just what a crucial member of the squad he is.

"He's been a