Claudio Ranieri still confident that Riyad Mahrez will stay at Leicester this summer

Claudio Ranieri is still "confident" that Riyad Mahrez will stay at Leicester City this summer, despite increasing speculation suggesting he could leave.

Posted Monday, July 25, 2016 by squawka.com

The Premier League champions have already lost one key player from last season in N'Golo Kante, who joined Chelsea last week, with the PFA Player of the Year now linked with a ￡41 million move to Arsenal this summer, as Arsene Wenger tries to strengthen his squad ahead of next term.

Mahrez was in fine form on Saturday evening, scoring a fantastic solo goal as Leicester beat Scottish champions Celtic on penalties in the International Champions Cup, earning a round of applause from both sets of fans as he left the Celtic Park pitch.

It was a performance that reminded everyone why he's a wanted man this summer, but Ranieri was bullish at the end of the game, insisting he's still confident of retaining the 25-year-old's services when the window slams shut next month.

"I'm confident, of course," the Leicester boss told Goal. "We know very well there are other teams who must win the Premier League. We just have to defend it. I changed him at last because I said 'okay, his job is done, it's better to avoid injury'.
"I'm very happy, we have a very good dressing room. The players who came in are very good."

The Algerian international was a near ever-present for the Foxes last season, scoring 17 goals and creating 67 chances in 37 Premier League appearances, with a shot accuracy of 64% and an average pass accuracy of 74%.

Ranieri's men finished at the summit on 81 points, 10 clear of Arsenal in second and 11 ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in third, who were their closest challengers until the final weeks of the campaign.

Leicester begin next term with the Community Shield clash against FA Cup winners Manchester United at Wembley, before travelling to newly-promoted Hull City for their opening Premier League fixture a week later, hoping to start their title defence on a positive note.