Leicester transfer news: £51m swoop for Slimani and Silva

Leicester transfer news: West Ham offer Jamie Vardy a big pay hike

11 May

Could Jamie Vardy be having a party at the Olympic Stadium next season? The Sun says it's a distinct possibility with West Ham "plotting an audacious £25m bid" for the Foxes frontman who's found the net 24 times in Leicester's title-winning season.

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Apparently the Hammers have a hunch that Vardy has a release clause in his contract and they want to test the resolve of Leicester by tabling an eye-watering offer for the 29-year-old striker who they believe would enjoy a good old East End knees up.

The Sun claims that West Ham, who last night bade farewell to the Boleyn Ground after 112 years, are quietly confident that "a £120,000-a-week four-year-deal might be enough to tempt the England striker to give up Champions League football" in preference for playing at the Olympic Stadium.

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has already been linked to the east London club this week, and Hammers co-owner David Sullivan is now chasing Vardy in the belief that he'll want to cash in on his new-found fame before he's over the hill. The striker penned a new deal with Leicester earlier in the season but the Sun says it earns Vardy a modest £80,000-a-week, increasing the likelihood that he'll flee the Foxes for the Hammers this summer.

Leicester transfer news: Ranieri wants Bolasie and Deeney

09 May

After Leicester's mammoth title celebration on Saturday the Foxes have shaken off their hangovers and are on the prowl for fresh talent and according to The Sun, they're looking to make a "double swoop" as soon as the summer transfer window opens.

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri has identified Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie and Troy Deeney of Watford as two players who are worthy of gracing the King Power Stadium next season. The Sun says that the 26-year-old Bolasie will likely cost £20m with the Eagles willing to let the Congolese hitman go for the right price.

As for the 27-year-old Deeney, he would also command a similar price, although the interest of Arsenal might add a few million to the bill as a bidding war could break out.

Deeney's goals have been a boon for the Hornets in recent seasons and apparently Ranieri sees in him the same sharpshooting potential as Jamie Vardy. The Sun says that Bolasie is open to a move but Deeney will "need persuading to leave his club as he is settled in the area".

Leicester transfer news: Mahrez blow as agent hints at exit

06 May

Leicester's chances of seeing Riyad Mahrez back at the King Power Stadium next season have suffered a setback with The Sun reporting the comments of the playmaker's agent.

The 25-year-old, who joined Leicester from French side Le Havre for around £400,000 in 2014, has been linked with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and others in recent weeks, despite the fact that the Foxes have issued a hands-off warning in light of their title triumph.

But Kamel Bengougam, who represents Mahrez, has talked candidly of what the future holds for the player who's found the net 17 times this season. Asked if there was a chance Mahrez could leave in the summer, Bengougam replied: "Yes of course there is a possibility. When you have been playing the way Riyad has this season it is bound to attract attention."

Though the agent was quick to add the obligatory caveat that his client is "happy" with his current employer, Bengougam declared: "But at his age if the opportunity comes to play for a big team then we would have to think about it."

That will be a blow to Leicester's vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha who has confidently declared that Mahrez wants to stay at the champions, according to ESPN. Asked about the rumours linking Mahrez to other clubs, Srivaddhanaprabha replied: "I talked to him and said, 'Are you concerned?' He said, 'No, no, I want to stay.' This is what he wants."

Leicester transfer news: 'Hands off Vardy, Mahrez and Kante'

04 May

"Fox Off!" That's the gist of the message from Premier League champs Leicester City to any club looking to cherry pick their title-winning squad in the summer.

Metro reports that when asked about the possibility of selling players in the coming weeks, Foxes vice chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha declared: "‘We are not the team that will sell players for money. So, I can confirm that we will keep all major players with the team, such as Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez, N'Golo Kante or Kasper Schmeichel."

But has Srivaddhanaprabha had that bullish statement translated into French? He better, because according to Talksport, Paris Saint-Germain "are set to step up their pursuit" of Kante.

The Foxes midfielder has been outstanding in propelling his side to Premier League glory and though he has been linked to Arsenal in recent weeks, French sports daily L'Equipe report that PSG are poised to table an eye-watering offer.

Apparently, the French champs "believe they are the only club who could persuade Kante to leave the King Power Stadium" and the Paris board are "expected to make an initial offer of around £32m". The club's sporting director, Olivier Letang, is trying to schedule a meeting in the summer, but Kante is thought to be keen to stay loyal to Leicester.

Leicester transfer news: Riyad Mahrez dismissed PSG link

26 April

With Leicester just three points from the Premier League title, PFA player of the season Riyad Mahrez is officially the hottest ticket in town.

And the hunt for the Foxes wing wizard continues, with Paris Saint Germain the latest club to be linked to the Leicester star, who collected the PFA award on Sunday night, hours after scoring for the Foxes in their 4-0 thrashing of Swansea to take them one step closer to the Premier League title.

It is no surprise that some of Europe's big guns are after the Algerian playmaker, but according to the French edition of Goal.com he has no intention of leaving the King Power Stadium for the Parc des Princes, and had some fairly dismissive words for the French champions.

Interviewed by Onze Mondial, Mahrez was asked whether there was a possibility of returning to Paris, the city where he grew up. "I supported Marseille when I was a kid," he said. "Even today PSG doesn't make me dream. It's my city but I don't see myself returning... I'm not saying it's impossible but I really don't have a desire, nor a desire to return to France."

Leicester City transfer news: Champions League lures Hernandez

14 April

As Leicester prepare to lift the Premier League title manager Claudio Ranieri is closing in on one of his first summer signings. According to the Daily Mail the Italian manager has Spanish defender Luis Hernandez in his sights and the 26-year-old is eager to sign for the Foxes and enjoy the delights of the Champions League.

Currently with Sporting Gijon, the former Real Madrid academy player is available on a free contract this summer and Ranieri has had nothing but good reports about Hernandez from his scouts. Despite languishing in the bottom half of La Liga, Gijon boast a superior defensive record to any of their nearest rivals, and the Mail says that's because of Hernandez.

A host of Spanish clubs are chasing his signature, including Celta Vigo, Sevilla and Real Betis, but the lure of the Champions League will lead the defender to the King Power stadium.

And Ranieri is also said to be eyeing up the youngster they call the "jewel of the San Siro youth system". Otherwise known as Manuel Locatelli, the 18-year-old AC Milan midfielder was linked to Arsenal earlier in the month but the Daily Express claims that Leicester are loitering in the background and will emerge from the shadows in the summer to table a bid that they believe will be enough to secure the teenager's services

Leicester transfer news: Foxes and Man City hunt Dembele

11 April

With Leicester just three wins away from an extraordinary Premier League title triumph following Sunday's 2-0 defeat of Sunderland, The Sun claims that the Foxes are confident of outpacing Manchester City in their pursuit of striker Ousmane Dembele.

Twelve months ago the very idea of Leicester being a more attractive option than the Sky Blues was laughable, but with their dominance of the Premier League this season the Sun says they are in pole position to land the player they describe as a "French starlet".

The 19-year-old has been in dazzling form for Rennes this season, and City and Tottenham have both been linked to the teenage frontman. But Leicester gaffer Claudio Ranieri "reckons he can tempt Dembele" to the King Power Stadium and with Champions League football now guaranteed next season the Foxes can easily meet Rennes £16m asking price.

And are the Foxes after another in-form forward? According to Italian rag Il Corriere della Sera, they and German outfit Borussia Dortmund are going head-to-head for AC Milan hitman M'Baye Niang. The 21-year-old Frenchman has developed nicely this season in Serie A and it's reported that AC Milan will "accept offers in the region of €15m".

Leicester City transfer news: Real Madrid want N’Golo Kante

06 April

Who would have imagined 12 months ago that Real Madrid scouts would ever be seen in Leicester, but that's what happens when you go from relegation contenders to champions-in-waiting.

According to the Daily Express, the Spanish giants have been monitoring N'Golo Kante and are now "considering a shock move for the Leicester star".

Spanish media reports that the 25-year-old Frenchman has impressed compatriot Zinedine Zidane and as a result the Real coach is poised to table a big-money offer to the Foxes, confident that they have the financial means to outbid Chelsea and Arsenal, both of whom have also been tracking Kante.

Leicester are said to be putting together a lucrative package in the hope of securing Kante's loyalty but the prospect of joining Real Madrid and working with a French legend could be impossible to resist for the young Fox. The Express claims that Madrid see Kante as a 'breaker' player in the middle of the field, thereby allowing Luka Modric more freedom to roam, and that's a role that appeals to the France international.

Leicester City transfer news: new deals for Mahrez and Kante

04 April

Premier League leaders Leicester have no intention of seeing their squad cherry-picked by the traditional powerhouses of English football this summer, so they have already started offering their stars what the Daily Mail describes as "lucrative new contracts".

With the club, now seven points clear at the top of the table, set to profit next season not just from a slice of the increased TV revenue, but also the money that comes with playing in the Champions League, Leicester are in a position to ward off interest from the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool, none of whom look likely to qualify for Europe's showpiece tournament.

The Mail says that Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kante are both in negotiations with Leicester with the Foxes aware that Arsenal have been sniffing around the pair in recent weeks. Manager Claudio Ranieri said on Friday that if Frenchman Kante wanted to join the Gunners, he wouldn't block the deal, but nonetheless the Mail says Leicester "are prepared to pull out all the stops" to prevent that happening.

Having tied Jamie Vardy to a new £80,000-per-week deal this season, Leicester will offer Kante and Mahrez "pay parity" with the England striker.

The Daily Mirror claims that Leicester's Thai owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, is "determined" to keep his squad together and is ready to offer Danny Drinkwater a hefty pay rise in order to secure his loyalty. The 26-year-old midfielder has been in the form of his life this season, earning a first call-up to the England squad for the recent friendlies against Germany and Holland. The Mirror says that Leicester want Drinkwater to sign an additional two-year contract so he remains at the King Power Stadium until 2020.