Emile Heskey sends transfer warning to Leicester ahead of Champions League
LEICESTER legend Emile Heskey has warned his former club against big-money signings this summer as they prepare for life in the Champions League.
Posted Saturday, March 19, 2016 by Express.co.uk
Emile Heskey has warned Claudio Ranieri that big-money signings could damage the club's philosophy
Claudio Ranieri has guided Leicester to top of the Premier League with eight games to go, despite the Foxes spending just £36.6million on new recruits since their 14th-place finish under Nigel Pearson last season.
The Italian has also got the best out of Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and Danny Drinkwater, who all played for Leicester in the Championship three seasons ago and cost a combined £2m.
When asked if Ranieri will need to spend big in the summer, Heskey said: "Not really. It’s difficult because if he brings in marquee signings then he risks hurting the philosophy of what he has already put in place. And he has a good set up with these players that are playing with confidence and know what each other’s doing.
"If he starts chipping and changing and bringing in personnel that doesn’t really fit in that genre, he’s going to start causing trouble."
Shinji Okazaki’s stunning overhead kick in the 1-0 home win over Newcastle was enough to see Leicester regain their five-point lead at the top of the table.
And Heskey, who won two League Cups during his 13-year stay at the Foxes, is certain his boyhood club have enough confidence to do the unthinkable and claim their first ever top-flight title.
On Leicester’s bid for the championship, he added: "There’s every chance. This is probably the best opportunity we’re ever going to get.
"You look at the top teams, there’s always going to be a period where they have a few bad games, a little bit of a blip. Generally you’ll say ‘don’t lose two games in a row’.
"But Leicester have gone from strength to strength and performances - confidence-wise - has been built up and built up.
"So I don’t see it derailing. But you never know when it comes down to five games to go, because then the pressure is totally different.”
Leicester will go into Saturday’s game at Crystal Palace knowing a win will move them eight points clear of second-place Tottenham, who don’t play Bournemouth until the day after.
But Heskey is sure Mauricio Pochettino’s side - who have lost just one league game since their 1-0 defeat to Leicester in January - will continue to pile on the pressure in the title race.
He added: "Spurs look very strong in this moment in time. They keep putting the pressure on.
"They have a player in Harry Kane who can get you goals and that’s the most important thing. And they’ve got some exciting young players."
Leicester are now just 4-5 with Ladbrokes to win the title and pull off the biggest upset in history.
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