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Claudio Ranieri determined to hang onto Leicester defender

Foxes chief aiming to keep hold of another star following Riyad Mahrez's new deal

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri says he is confident Jeff Schlupp won’t sch-lip through his fingers and sign for West Brom.

Champions Leicester knocked back an improved bid of £12million bid from Baggies for their 23-year-old Ghanaian international earlier this week.

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Now, boosted by tying down Arsenal target Riyad Mahrez on a new four-year-deal, Ranieri has dismissed speculation versatile wide-boy Schlupp is on the brink of slapping in a transfer request to try and force through a move to the Hawthorns.

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“He stays with us,” Ranieri revealed, “he is very happy. That is always good news.”

Schlupp made 24 appearances for Leicester last season – 10 from the bench – but faces competition in his two favoured positions of left-back and wide left.

Christian Fuchs and emerging talent Ben Chilwell are ahead of him in defence, while he must try and shift Mark Albrighton, Demarai Gray, Ahmed Musa and Bartosz Kapustka further forward.

However with three years left on his existing contract Leicester hold all the aces.

West Brom have already made two bids as Tony Pulis is desperate to add versatile Schlupp to his threadbare squad but the Foxes rejected both offers.

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Ranieri says he wants Schlupp to stay as he needs a big squad to deal with the extra games provided by the Champions’ League.

“I am happy when I am in this position, with a lot of players,” he said, “It is important to have a lot of quality players to choose from.”

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