Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has said he expects Riyad Mahrez to stay with the club ahead of the Foxes' Premier League title defence in 2016-17.

Mahrez, 25, was one of several star men for Ranieri, as the club defied all odds and logic to win the league. However, that success brought attention to the team's top players, with N'Golo Kante leaving for Chelsea and Jamie Vardy being the target of a move by Arsenal.

Ranieri and Leicester received good news on Tuesday when captain Wes Morgan signed a new contract to stay with the team, and the Italian boss thinks Mahrez and others will follow suit.

"I am pleased to sign Wes and I think slowly, slowly the rest will sign," Ranieri said in quotes appearing in the Daily Mail. "It's not my job to sign them up. I am just the head coach and not the sporting director, but slowly, slowly, I know the other players will sign.

"It is important to maintain the group with the spirit and with the humility. That is important for me.

"Signing Vardy was huge and Mahrez will be the same. Not only Mahrez, everybody.

"The football would continue without Mahrez, without Kante, but Mahrez will stay with us for all the years. I am confident. No other players will go. We stay together."

After Leicester's 2-1 friendly win over Oxford on Tuesday, Ranieri wished Kante good luck, saying he was sympathetic to the France international's desire to make the most of his breakout season in the Premier League by seeking new opportunities.

"Only Kante wanted to go and that's OK," Ranieri said. "He came from a little team in France and made a fantastic season. I wanted him to stay with us for another year. He would improve with the experience of the Champions League but he wanted to go. OK, good luck. I don't want unhappy players."

One key man who does appear set to leave Leicester is assistant manager and head of recruitment Steve Walsh, according to multiple reports.

Walsh, who is credited with bringing Mahrez and Kante to Leicester, signed a new contract with the Foxes in May, but the club has reportedly allowed him to leave to take a job with Everton.

The Mirror reported that Walsh could even be announced as Everton's new sporting director.

Leicester open the season with the Community Shield against Manchester United on Aug. 7 and then begin their Premier League title defence away to Hull City on Aug. 13.

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by ESPN staff

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