Enzo Maresca addresses Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall transfer questions amid Brighton talks.

The Seagulls are interested in the midfielder, but Maresca deflects questions to the club’s hierarchy and says it’s not something he can discuss.

Enzo Maresca deflected questions about Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s future at Leicester City amid Brighton’s bid for the club’s star midfielder.

When asked about his thoughts on the 25-year-old following City’s 3-0 victory over Birmingham, Maresca said it was up to the club’s hierarchy, not him. However, he did confirm that Dewsbury-Hall was only absent from the FA Cup fourth-round match to rest for Tuesday’s Championship game against Swansea.

News broke on Friday night that Brighton had moved for Dewsbury-Hall, whose nine goals and nine assists have propelled City to the Championship’s top spot. With five days remaining in the transfer window, the Seagulls are some distance from City’s valuation, which is said to be £30 million.

When asked if he had anything to say about Dewsbury-Hall’s future, a prickly Maresca replied: “No. The reason why he was not in the squad was because we gave him, Harry Winks, and Jannik a rest for Tuesday’s game.”

When asked if he was confident Dewsbury-Hall would not be sold, the manager replied, “This is a question for the club, not for me,” before adding: “We have talked about the transfer window for sure, but it’s not a question for me.

“At the end, we need some balance. We’ll see. Anyway, I’m not saying anything because Kiernan is our player. In the moment that something happens, I will tell my thoughts about it.”

When asked if he was desperate to keep such an influential player, Maresca responded, “I told you yesterday. I’m happy with the squad that we have.”

City is already two midfielders down from where they began the month, with Wilfred Ndidi potentially out until April and Cesare Casadei recalled by Chelsea. City has been looking for new signings in that area, with Inter Milan’s Stefano Sensi on their radar, but sales are required before anyone can be brought in.

Maresca was helped ahead of Swansea by the fact that both of the number eights he started against Birmingham scored. Yunus Akgun opened the scoring for the club with a 20-yard rocket, and Dennis Praet added the third goal just before full-time.

In other news, Leicester appears certain to agree some sort of termination for Kelechi Iheanacho as Patson Daka returns from the AFCON.