Wilfred Ndidi is worth more than £50m, says Brendan Rodgers amid Villa interest
The 25-year-old Foxes midfielder, who is contracted until 2024, has been linked with Aston Villa - with reports they are ready to bid for him this summer with £50m to spend.
When that figure was put to Rodgers at a press conference on Wednesday, he said: "He's worth much more than that."
Rodgers accepted that good players always attract interest, but believes the midfielder is happy at the club and sees no reason why he would not choose to stay.
"It's both of those things - it's how it works," Rodgers said.
"A player of that quality and mentality, of course you want to always keep, but when you have that player, he will always attract interest.
"But he seems very settled here. I know he's moved into a new house and he seems very, very happy. He's a pleasure to work with and hopefully he can be around the club for many years."
On opponents Randers FC 🇩🇰
— Leicester City (@LCFC) February 16, 2022
"I expect it to be a really tough game because every team playing is worthy of winning the competition. Seeing videos about the team, they are a really good side and I think we are ready for it." pic.twitter.com/2NIREMyP3N
Ndidi happy at Foxes
Ndidi had spoken himself earlier at the press conference. He said: "At the moment I am enjoying myself in Leicester.
"My family is here. My business degree was on hold because at the time it was during lockdown, and then my daughter (was born). But I'm looking forward to it maybe next year."
Rodgers and Ndidi were speaking ahead of Thursday's home clash with Danish side Randers, the first leg of a Europa Conference League play-off from which the winners will advance into the last 16.
Ndidi was asked about Rodgers' comments after the 4-1 FA Cup loss at Nottingham Forest earlier this month, where he stressed that "there are a lot of players, between now and the end of the season, who need to prove they are still worthy of being here".
The Nigeria international said: "It is the honest truth. The club is bigger than every player. We as players know what we want, for the club, as players, so I think it's just that concentration of where you are now, to look forward to those achievements that you want.
"I think it's just a wake-up call for us, for the manager to actually say those things and for us to concentrate more on our games. At this moment, we needed it. He (Rodgers) is always there for us. I think we needed it."