Leicester are employing the same tactic over Ben Chilwell that they used to secure a record fee for Harry Maguire.
They stubbornly refused to name a price for England star Maguire last summer.
It meant Manchester United kept bidding more and more before eventually paying £80million for Maguire, making him the world’s most expensive defender.
Now Leicester have adopted the same stance over Chelsea target Chilwell, 23, who Frank Lampard is prioritising.
Leicester have also used the tactic before to successfully bag £60m for Riyad Mahrez from Manchester City in 2018.
Foxes owner Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha is hugely wealthy and is under no financial pressure to sell. But there could come a stage, as with Mahrez and Maguire, that the bidding reaches a point where it makes sense to sell.
That could be north of £80m for England left-back Chilwell, who has 11 caps.
Chelsea are believed to be stepping up their interest after agreeing terms with German international Timo Werner from RB Leipzig.
Rodgers’ former Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney has been mooted as a possible replacement for Chilwell but the Scot is understood to be planning to remain at Arsenal, where he is highly rated.
Leicester aim to continue their preparations for their Premier League restart at Watford on June 20 with a friendly against Aston Villa.
Chelsea face seven-way transfer battle for Chilwell
Chelsea face a battle with at least seven other clubs in the race to sign Chilwell, who is understood to be open to a move.
At least four of those options are in the Premier League - with two of them deemed to be realistic.
And there are further opportunities for him on the continent with interest from big clubs in Italy and Spain.
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