Claudio Ranieri: 'Danny Drinkwater close to new deal'

Danny Drinkwater celebrates scoring during the Premier League game between Chelsea and Leicester City on May 15, 2016
© Getty Images
Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri says that England midfielder Danny Drinkwater is "very, very close to signing a new contract".

Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri has revealed that England midfielder Danny Drinkwater is "very, very close to signing a new contract".

It had been thought that the Foxes would lose a number of key players this summer after their Premier League triumph last season, but Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez, Kasper Schmeichel and Wes Morgan have all signed new deals in recent weeks.

N'Golo Kante has moved on to Chelsea, but according to Ranieri, Drinkwater is close to signing an extension despite suggestions that Tottenham Hotspur wanted to bring the former Manchester United midfielder to White Hart Lane.

"Danny is very, very close to signing a new contract," Ranieri told reporters. "Our owner is very ambitious. He wants to maintain the same spirit and squad. He's very curious about this season. We have very good players. It's normal other managers look at Leicester players. We want to continue. We want to stay together."

Leicester are back in Premier League action at home to Arsenal this weekend, when they will look to bounce back from a 2-1 opening-day defeat to Hull City last time out.

Riyad Mahrez shows off his gold iPhone ahead of the Premier League game between Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion on March 1, 2016
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City22006246
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd22005146
3Hull City22004136
4Chelsea22004226
5Everton21103214
6Middlesbrough21103214
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs21102114
8Burnley21012113
9West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom21012203
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham21012203
11Liverpool210145-13
12Swansea CitySwansea210112-13
13Arsenal201134-11
14Watford201123-11
15Leicester CityLeicester201112-11
16Southampton201113-21
17Stoke CityStoke201125-31
18Sunderland200224-20
19Crystal Palace200202-20
20Bournemouth200214-30