Arsenal are a good bet using this LeoVegas bonus code to finish in the top four this season, but a lot will depend on their transfer activity. As such, any interest in players from rival clubs who are also vying for the top four is expected to be rejected, at least until the player downs tools.

That’s where we are with Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers talking down Arsenal’s pursuit of star playmaker James Maddison.

Speaking of Maddison’s future at the King Power Stadium amid growing speculations about the 24-year-old’s move to London, Rodgers played down all the rumours.

When asked to confirm whether the England international will be Leicester’s player come the new campaign, he said (via Goal): “I believe so. I haven’t been told anything different.

“James is a very important member of our squad.”

Maddison has emerged as Mikel Arteta’s preferred option to shoulder Arsenal’s creative burden next season.

Despite tying Emile Smith Rowe down to a new contract amid Aston Villa’s intense interest, the Gunners cannot entrust the youngster with carrying the entire season on his own.

Indeed, they need a senior star to take responsibility following Mesut Ozil’s departure and Martin Odegaard’s return to Real Madrid.

Per multiple sources in England, the Londoners are ready to go all-out for Maddison as he ticks all the boxes for the type of player Arteta is looking to add to his depleted midfield.

But with three years left to run on his contract, stealing him away from the East Midlands won’t be a simple task.

Arsenal already saw their player-plus-cash bid for the Englishman turned down by Leicester, who are holding out for a £60m price tag.

Now that they have realised the Foxes won’t abandon their stance on their standout performer, the Gunners are looking to raise funds from player sales.

Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah and Ainsley Maitland-Niles were all mentioned as potential makeweights in an offer Leicester knocked back in July.

Arsenal are reportedly ready to offload each of them, plus the likes of Hector Bellerin, Sead Kolasinac and Willian, as they hope to get the deal over the line in the final stretch of the transfer window.

The 2020/21 season saw Maddison at his peak power, with the playmaker hitting double-digits for both goals and assists.

He racked up 11 goals and additional ten assists in 42 outings across all competitions to earn high acclaim from the King Power powerbrokers.

Yet, Maddison’s stellar season has attracted unwanted attention that threatens to take him away from Leicester despite the club’s utmost efforts to avoid such a scenario.

If Arsenal can accumulate enough funds to match the East Midlands side’s demands, the Englishman is likely to embrace a move to the Emirates.

The signing of Maddison would be crucial to Arteta’s squad overhaul following the arrivals of Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Ben White.