Leicester City manager Claude Puel has insisted his side cannot afford to lose Kasper Schmeichel and Harry Maguire in response to exit rumours this summer.
Both Maguire and Schmeichel have been linked with moves away from the Foxes this summer to top six clubs Manchester United and Chelsea respectively.
Jose Mourinho has focused his attention on central defenders, despite reports suggesting chairman Ed Woodward gave the Portuguese tactician license to pursue superstars such as Gareth Bale, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar.
Meanwhile, Thibaut Courtois looks to be heading to European champions Real Madrid. However, if United are intent on improving their defensive options and Chelsea want to replace their star goalkeeper they won’t find those options at Leicester if Puel has anything to do with it.
The French man has stressed that both Schmeichel and Maguire are crucial to his plans and selling them would prove to be too disruptive with less than a fortnight to go before the start of the new Premier League season – and end of the transfer window.
“I think we can keep both players. It is crucial for us,” the Foxes boss told reporters (via Goal) after a 2-1 friendly loss to Udinese in Austria.
“We cannot lose players just a few days before the beginning of the season. We would not be able to find a solution and we cannot be behind.
“Kasper and Maguire are so valuable for us. It is important to maintain our structure, our squad and all our valuable players for the team.”
Leicester’s transfer window
Tout viens à point à qui sait attendre @ManCity pic.twitter.com/340bJosYpb
— Riyad Mahrez (@Mahrez22) July 10, 2018
Leicester have already lost one of their best players this window, with winger Riyad Mahrez heading to Premier League champions Manchester City.
Mahrez was a major part of the Leicester side that defied the odds to lift the Premier League title in 2016, and he becomes one of several players including N’Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater to have left the club since their 2015/16 triumph.
The Foxes have completed some signings of their own this summer though, including the acquisition of 21-year-old James Maddison from Norwich City, 24-year-old right-back Ricardo Pereira from Porto and former Manchester United defender Jonny Evans from recently relegated West Bromwich Albion.
Leicester have completed their pre-season preparations and will take on Manchester United in their Premier League opener on 10 August.
The post Leicester boss Claude Puel comments on Maguire future amid Man Utd links appeared first on Squawka News.
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