Leicester City left Louis Page out of their squad for their opening match of the League One season against Notts County. Manchester United are working on a deal to sign the England Under-20 international and would welcome the central midfielder into their first-team group if any move materialises.
Page's absence explained
Our colleagues at LeicestershireLive understand that Page's absence is not transfer-related, with the 18-year-old at Meadow Lane for the match. Leicester head coach Russell Martin acknowledged on Friday that the club have rejected an offer for their academy graduate. He stated earlier in the week that Page would be in the squad.
Martin said: "Until something comes in that is really brilliant for the club and player and everyone is happy, then Louis stays and he's in the squad."
Martin on the offer
Asked again about Page, he acknowledged: "That's [the interest] been well-documented, yeah. We turned down an offer for Louis. There's been a lot of chat all summer about him from various clubs. We had one offer from a club, and that was turned down."
Elaborating even further, Martin said: "We're really relaxed about it; we don't have to sell anyone. I think if we choose to, it'll be because it's right for everyone. I've said this so many times. It'll be right for the player; it's something they want to do; it's right for us because we have enough money that makes it work for us; and it means we can place them, and we're ready to replace them."
United's connection
Martin has also mentioned United's director of football, Jason Wilcox, this week, with whom the coach worked at Southampton. Asked about Page, he said: "Louis's a really fantastic young player. I obviously know their director of football [Jason Wilcox] at Manchester United very well after spending some time with him at Southampton. We haven't actually spoke on Louis because he probably knows what I'd say to him and tell him to go away!"
