Brendan Rodgers outlines the one key reason signed a new deal at Leicester amid Arsenal interest

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has given his reasons for signing a new contract at Leicester City, despite interest from Arsenal.

The Foxes' boss dealt the Gunners a blow in their search for a replacement for Unai Emery by singing a new five-and-a-half year contract at the King Power Stadium on Friday, ending talks that his immediate future may be at the Emirates Stadium.

Reports suggested that Rodgers was one of Arsenal's top targets after an impressive start to the season in charge of Leicester, leading them to second place in the Premier League.

Speculation around the Northern Irishman's future intensified when it emerged that he had a £14 million release clause in his old deal, however, talking during his pre-match press conference ahead of the club's game against Aston Villa, Rodgers has said that talks on a new deal started before Arsenal decided to part ways with Emery.

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“Yes. Of course I wasn't going to tell you that and go public on so much," he said, as reported by LeicestershireLive .

“I’m honoured the club have been happy with our work since we came in, the relationships are strong and open, it’s very clean and simple

"I’ve got a great team of people here and my commitment is to make players better, to improve the team and help the club move forward. We’ve been talking for a few weeks.

The Leicester manager has also outlined one key reason in his decision to commit his future to the Foxes.

“I’m delighted to commit next five-and-a-half years here, it’s been absolutely brilliant since I came in.," he added.

“I’m so happy to work with players, individually and as a team, they have been amazing.

“The key thing for me was the potential here. There’s so much scope and room to develop the club, like we’ve been trying to do since we came in.

“We have identified a style of play to improve players and get results, while there is also the excitement of the new training facility and the growth of the stadium, and we will see if we can establish ourselves at top end over coming years, so I’m absolutely delighted.”