Ruud van Nistelrooy has categorically denied suggestions that Conor Coady was keen to leave Leicester City to join relegation rivals Wolves, the manager launching a staunch defence of his centre-back.

Reports emerged on deadline day of a potential swap deal between City and Wolves, with Coady heading back to his former club and Craig Dawson arriving at the King Power Stadium. After the deal broke down and the transfer window closed, there were then further reports that Coady was particularly keen to return to Molineux.

But van Nistelrooy has stressed he has no concerns over Coady’s loyalty to City, where he has a contract until summer 2026. He added that it was “unthinkable” to let him leave.

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Asked if he had any doubts over Coady’s commitment, van Nistelrooy said: “Zero. I didn’t hear anything from his side where he asked to leave. That is totally not true. If that is what is being said, it’s not true.

“He is a big part in this squad. He’s one of our leaders. He’s such a character that when he doesn’t play, he’s still that leader, he’s still helping the team, coaching the team, talking to players, pushing everybody to their highest levels in training sessions. For me it was unthinkable for him to go. But from his side, there were no signs he wanted to leave.”

Coady started van Nistelrooy’s first eight matches in charge, his longest run in the City line-up, even captaining the side at Liverpool on Boxing Day. However, he was dropped for the 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace, with Wout Faes and Jannik Vestergaard the preferred centre-back pairing since then.

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