Leicester Stars Must Stay For "One Year More" - Ranieri

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has asked his Premier League title winners to “stay one year more”.

The Foxes completed one of sport’s greatest shocks when they won the league with a squad costing £57m.

Winger Riyad Mahrez, striker Jamie Vardy and midfielder N’Golo Kante are among the previously unheralded players to be linked with moves away.

“I’m very, very confident,” Ranieri said. “Don’t go. If you go another team, you might not get on the pitch.”

The Italian, who only replaced Nigel Pearson as manager last summer, was given a standing ovation by journalists as he came into his news conference for Saturday’s home game with Everton.

“From the beginning I felt something special,” he said. “Never could I imagine this, but it’s good. We work so hard.”

He laughed off suggestions that he could quit on a high this summer, and added he will not be signing global stars for next season’s Champions League campaign.

“I don’t want big names here. My lads are special. We have to bring some good players but they must have the same spirit.”

Algeria forward Mahrez, 25, won the PFA Player of the Year award after scoring 17 goals and 11 assists.

However, his agent Kamel Bengougam says it is “50/50 at the moment whether he stays or goes”.

“We have interest from the UK and overseas,” he added.

Everton boss Roberto Martinez, who takes his side to Leicester on Saturday at 17:30 BST, thinks a shock winner of the Premier League is likely to be a one-off.

“What Leicester have achieved is a great inspiration for any team sport and for any group in order to dream high and have huge expectations but I think we need to be realistic that this is not the norm.

“It’s something we haven’t seen in the modern game and I don’t think that’s going to be repeated easily.”

Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew, whose side face Manchester United in the FA Cup final, said: “Leicester won it after 36 games. Last year for 10 games they were in the best form. For nearly 50 games they’ve been best in the country.

“It’s proof the underdog can do it. And it will give us a boost for the cup final.

“Leicester have shattered the glass ceiling, and I thought it was impossible to break. They’ve gone and done it. Amazing.

“Football isn’t all logic. It’s almost like some stardust has fallen on Leicester – great for them. Let’s hope it falls on us for the final.”

Opera star joins the party

Opera star Andrea Bocelli will perform at King Power Stadium before Saturday’s game.

Ranieri revealed the 57-year-old – who has sold more than 80 million records – called him and offered to perform two months ago.

“He was so happy about what we were doing in Leicester. He said: ‘I would like to come and sing something’. I said: ‘Great, why not?’,” said Ranieri.

“I gave all the information to the club and they made all the arrangements. It is great for all the community.”

BBC

Leicester Stars Must Stay For "One Year More" - Ranieri

Leicester City Team "Could Be Worth £200m"

The value of Leicester City’s squad could “triple or quadruple” after their Premier League title win.

The Foxes’ squad was assembled for £57m, the cheapest of any currently in the top half of the table.

“If you take Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez as individuals, you’re looking at £70m there,” said agent and sports lawyer David Seligman of Leicester’s attacking duo.

“You’re looking at a team of upwards of £200m.”

Leicester paid £1m for 29-year-old former non-league striker Vardy in 2012, while winger Mahrez, 25, joined for £400,000 in 2014.

Mahrez and Vardy have scored or assisted 48 of Leicester’s 64 league goals this season, and have both earned international caps for England and Algeria respectively.

France midfielder N’Golo Kante, 25, was bought from Caen for £5.6m and has also been a key asset for Claudio Ranieri’s side this term.

In January, research conducted by the International Centre for Sports Studies valued Vardy and Kante at 25m euros (£19.8m), with Mahrez at 40m euros (£31.7m).

Those figures differ from the values provided by market value analysis website Transfermarkt in the above graphic, although Seligman believes Leicester’s star names could command even higher prices.

“If people are paying £50m plus for Raheem Sterling, then Mahrez is worth more than that. He’s still got his peak to come,” said Seligman.

“Kante signed an initial contract a year ago and hasn’t signed another one and only has a year left. His rise has been meteoric.

“They’re all going on to be international players and that adds to the price tag. They’re better players now and also they’re superstars commercially. Their values are going to increase massively.”

Vardy signed a new three-year contract with Leicester in February, but has been linked with moves to former champions Manchester United and Chelsea.

“If you’ve got clubs like Chelsea, United and Arsenal coming in I don’t think you can turn them down – even if you wouldn’t be playing week in week out,” added Seligman.

“But Leicester are champions with billionaire owners. If United can pay someone £200k a week then so can Leicester.”

BBC

Leicester City Team "Could Be Worth £200m"

We Cannot Allow Leicester To Win Title-Van Gaal

Louis van Gaal has warned Leicester City that his Manchester United players will not allow them to win the Barclays Premier League title at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Claudio Ranieri’s men require three more points to secure the championship crown, but the Reds must also win with a place in the top four still up for grabs and four important matches left to play.

Speaking to reporters at his pre-match press conference at the Aon Training Complex on Friday afternoon, van Gaal remained quietly optimistic of securing UEFA Champions League qualification next season and spoke of delaying the Foxes’ coronation as Premier League champions.

“I think we have to beat Leicester because we are still in the race for the first positions, so we have to beat them,” he said. “We cannot allow that they are the champions this weekend at Old Trafford. I think they shall be the champion a week later, so we don’t spoil the party, just postpone it a little bit.

“I was the first who said that they could be champions and now a presenter [Match of the Day’s Gary Lineker] has to wear underwear when they are the champions. For me it is not a surprise; I say that many, many times. I believe in team building and the manager has done that with this team.

“They had the circumstances to play always with the same team as they did not play so many matches as the other teams in the league, so it is always possible. It is good for the Premier League and the sport of football that not always the same teams are the champion.”

At his press conference, van Gaal was also quizzed on Ranieri’s remarkable work this season and the Dutchman was full of praise for the Italian, citing their previous meetings as managers in La Liga.

“Yeah, it was never easy to beat his teams,” van Gaal told reporters. “Valencia and Barcelona is also more or less a derby so it is a difficult match. He has always organised his teams very good.”

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We Cannot Allow Leicester To Win Title-Van Gaal

Joe Dodoo Strikes To Steer Leicester Reserves Past Southampton

English born Ghanaian forward Joe Dodoo scored a cracker to steer Leicester City U-21 to a vital win at home to Southampton in the reserve league.

The 20 year old King Power crowd favourite capped a very productive night with his side’s second goal of the night in a 2-1 win over the much fancied Soton

The rampant Ghanaian youngster doubled the Foxes lead 31 minutes into the league fixture after an opening strike from Admiral Muskwe in a 2-1 win at the King Power.

Compatriot Daniel Amartey also lasted the full throttle of the game for the Foxes at their dreaded king Power stadium.

Dodoo made a bright start to the game and should have opened the scoring for the high flying just 11 minute into the game that has a number of first team players in their rank.

The Ghanaian however atoned for his earlier missed with a cracker that took a huge deflection en route to finding the back of the net.

The prolific attacker, who was promoted to the senior side at the start of the campaign latched onto a dropping ball from the left flank and sent a thunderbolt past Paolo Gazzanigal in post for the visitors.

The ambidextrous forward then threatened to double his personal later in the second half only to meet an inspired Gazanigal between the sticks.

Winter arrival from FC Cobenhaven , Daniel Amartey, lasted the full throttle for the reserves side as well after his cameo in the senior side’s 0-1 triumph at Watford.

Dodoo racked in four cup goals for Claudio Ranieri’s men in his three Capital One Cup played on his senior appearances.

Joe Dodoo Strikes To Steer Leicester Reserves Past Southampton

Jeff Schlup set for Leicester City return in three weeks

Crocked Leicester City versatile wing back Jefferey Schlup is set to return from his lengthy spell on the treatment table within three weeks.

The English Born Ghana international has been sidelined for the past eight matches for the Foxes after picking a muscle tear at training.

The injury ravaged marauding wing back has been an ever present figure for the high flying King Power outfit before picking that nasty injury which kept him out of action for the Premiership leaders.

Schlupp, starred prominently for the high flying table toppers with 16 appearances and solitary strikes to his name in the ongoing 2015/16 league leaders.

Head coach for the league leaders, Claudio Ranieri, hinted at an imminent return for the Black Stars full back in a possible clash with Norwich at the end of the month.

“I think Jefferey Schlupp will be back at the end of the month. Our Strengths is to be close. The dressing room and the squad is very friendly.

We only want people who have the fire inside”, Ranieri told LCFC official portal.

Jefferey Schlupp has already missed eight fixtures for the high flying Foxes and look set to miss three more before returning to the Foxes in the clash with Norwich at the Horthrowns.

Jeff Schlup set for Leicester City return in three weeks

David Atanga inspired by Amartey"s move to Leicester City

Ghana youth international David Adoona Atanga is poised for a future move to the premiership after Amartey’s arrival at the King Power stadium.

The Leifering attacking wide man has set his sight on joining the ever growing Ghanaian contingent in the English top flight in the near future.

The Black Stars forward is enjoying a breakthrough season in Austria but has his sight firmly fixed on Premiership football as he continues to develop his career.

The 19 year old dribbling wizard tasked the teaming Ghanaian contingent in England to raise the image of their compatriots with commanding performances to incite more clubs into the Ghanaian market.

The ambitious forward relish the chance to flex muscles with the top notch players but believes it all depends on the current arrivals in English football if more Ghanaian players are to follow.

Atanga highlighted the arrival of FC Copenhagen defender to the King Power as a source of motivation for young players with Ghanaian decent.

“I am really happy for him(Amartey)as his move to Leicester City will move Ghana football forward. It is good for Ghana football and we now have lots of players plying their trade in good leagues.” Atanga told sports crusader exclusively.

On the essence of the teaming Ghanaian players in the Premier league, Atanga revealed the need for impressive performance from his compatriots if they are to open the gate wider for future Ghanaian players.

“If they perform very very well then clubs in England will start to look for more Ghanaian players and I may be that lucky one too”, Atanga concluded.

The midfield sensation was recently promoted to the senior side of Leifering but he decided to stay with the second tier side as continues to blossom in Austria. Atanga holds the record of the fastest league goal in the 2015/16 Austria Liga 1 to add to his blistering treble earlier in the campaign.

Amartey joins five other Ghanaian players in Christian Atsu, Baba Rahman, Jordan Ayew, Andre Ayew and Jeff Schlup.

David Atanga inspired by Amartey"s move to Leicester City

Amartey Leicester City move is a motivation for young players- Delaye Senaye

Newly elected Executive Committee member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Mr Eric Delaye Senaye has called on young players in the country to draw motivation from Daniel Amartey’s move to Leicester City.

The Inter Allies Chief tasked upcoming players across the country to use the former Copehagen defender as a reference point and try to reach their full potentials.

Daniel Amartey passed through the ranks of Inter Allies in the second division stage before joining the exodus bus in 2013 to Sweden.

The Inter Allies CEO called on the upcoming players never to give up but try to pass through the harsh conditions at the early stages of their chosen careers.

He further pleaded for an all inclusive attitude from the entire football family in Ghana if the league is to reach the limit we so much crave for as a football loving country.

“Daniel Amartey move to LCFC has made him a role for our young players and other players in the Academy houses. It would serve as a good point of reference for kids and motivate them to work harder knowing very well it will surely pay off.” Mr Eric Delaye told sports crusader.

He further tasked all stakeholders in our local league to work towards a common objective if the domestic league is to blossom in the near future.

“Ghana league has a lot to offer and with support from the government and corporate Ghana, the league will be a fantastic tool for us all. We are keeping the hope and the interest of developing a solid Premier league in the sub region if not Africa at large. Every body should come on board and support the local league.” The Exco member told sports crusader.

Mr Eric Delaye Senaye has been touted as one of the finest upcoming administrators in the football terrain with his professional administration of Tema based Inter Allies.

Amartey Leicester City move is a motivation for young players- Delaye Senaye

Leicester City on the heels of Daniel Amartey

Danish side FC Copenhagen has officially confirmed a bid from Leicester City for their Ghanaian defender Daniel Amartey.

The 21 year old Black Stars defender came close to joining the Foxes in the summer but now look destined to team up with Jeffery Schlup at the King Power stadium.

Amartey has been an ever present figure in the Danish club set up and has been valued in excess of £5m ahead of an imminent departure.

The versatile centre back who can equally screen the back four has been on the wanted list of the Foxes as they look to consolidate their top spot in England.

A reported £5m offer has been sent to Cobenhagen for the services of the defensive re enforcer by the Premiership joint table toppers.

“FC Copenhagen can confirm that we have received an offer for Daniel Amartey from Leicester City FC. Right now there is talks between the two clubs. We will send out a new press release if a final agreement is reached”, a club statement from Cobenhagen reads.

The former Djurgarden centre back has been on the shopping list of most elite European side after a stellar season in Denmark.

His arrival will increase the Ghanaian contingent in the club to three , adding to Jeff Schlup and Joe Dodoo.

Claudio Ranieri side continued their surge at the top of the Premiership with a vital win away to Tottenham Hotspur at the White Hart lane.

Leicester City on the heels of Daniel Amartey