Qualifying for Europe will be a greater challenge for Leicester City next season with Brendan Rodgers expecting their mid-table rivals to invest heavily. Rodgers also expects Newcastle to make significant moves in the transfer market following their takeover last year, led by the Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. West Ham, meanwhile, have European football to offer after qualifying for the Europa Conference League.
Brendan Rodgers said: “The challenge here becomes even greater next season. There will be a number of clubs who will spend. There will be the so-called top six clubs, plus others who we know will invest. It’s going to be a big challenge. I certainly see Aston Villa as one of those teams. They have made it clear with the money they have spent since coming back to the Premier League, bringing Steven (Gerrard) in and supporting him with the players who have come in. It’s very clear that’s what they want to do (qualify for Europe). It’s all to do with investment. Newcastle will invest heavily in the summer to bring in a number of quality players, so they are of course going to be challenging. Aston Villa you would say so as well. West Ham, you hear about them going to invest money also. So clearly there will be more teams challenging for sure.”
City also want to invest in their team as part of a shake-up of their squad, Rodgers targeting five or six new recruits. A centre-back, two central midfielders, a right-sided winger, and the permanent signing of Ademola Lookman are all on the agenda for the club, but sales will be needed to partly finance the deals.
