Leicester City are preparing for a busy summer in the transfer market with a host of incomings to finalise and a number of key players to keep hold of.
None less than Harry Maguire, who is again subject to interest from Manchester United this summer.
Brendan Rodgers wants as many as five in through the door this summer and we've already seen a wide array of players linked.
We'll keep you updated with all the latest links, news and much more in our live blog below throughout the day, so stick with us to make sure you have all the City latest.
you can also get in touch with us and have your say on our Facebook and Twitter channels or, alternatively, you can leave us a comment in the section below.
That's a wrap!
That’s all for today. Thanks for joining us for our live City blog today.
we’ll be back with more from 7am tomorrow but in the meantime, enjoy all our best and biggest stories from today below and enjoy the rest of your evening.
- What we know about Manchester United and Manchester City target Harry Maguire’s Leicester City future
- Leicester City linked with Cameroon international striker
- Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho could get late call from Nigeria - reports
- The man who saved Leicester City from oblivion
- The one condition that must be met for Leicester City target James Justin to be sold
That's settled, then
Here are the results on today’s poll so far. Scroll down and vote to have your say.
Why Rodgers and City are the perfect fit
Leicester City and Brendan Rodgers are a match made in heaven, according to former City favourite Pontus Kaamark.
Kaamark has been working as a television pundit in his native Sweden covering the Premier League and he has been keeping a keen eye on events at King Power Stadium.
He is particularly excited for the future now they have Rodgers in charge.
Kaamark believes Claude Puel was the wrong fit for City and could understand the frustration of the supporters, but the 50-year-old, who played for City between 1995 and 1999, believes they have the right man now.
In fact, he believes just as Rodgers is good for City, so are City the perfect fit for Rodgers.
Read our interview with Pontus Kaamark here
Khun Top's Ascot delight
One of late Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s dreams came true on Saturday when King Power Racing’s Cleonte won at Royal Ascot.
Khun Vichai’s son Aiyawatt, netter known as Top, and his brother Apichet watched on as Cleonte, rode by Silvestre de Sousa, a jockey chosen by Vichai himself, ran to victory in the final race of the day.
An emotional Khun Top spoke after the race, revealing just how much his father wanted to win at Royal Ascot.
“At that corner, I thought ‘please don’t be second again’,” he told World Horse Racing. “Silvestre did a great job.
“Everybody has been trying for my father. He planned everything for today, he wanted to win at Royal Ascot and just now we have won.
Poll: Where should City strengthen?
For today’s poll, we want to know which area of the pitch you feel needs the most improvement.
Why Leicester's own World Cup is bringing communities together
The World Cup is coming to Leicester.
It might not be the official FIFA version, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and co strutting their stuff, but to those who will be taking part at Victoria Park, Sunday, July 28, it will be just as special.
The Inner City World Cup was the brainchild of Mark Abery, an amateur player who had always dreamed of representing his country in a World Cup but realised it wasn’t going to happen unless he started his own.
He also understood how football could unite diverse communities and bring people closer together, so in 1994 he began the Inner City World Cup in his native east end of London.
The teams were made from multicultural football players representing their nation of origin and it has thrived ever since.
Now it is coming to Leicester and Abery, backed by former Leicester City favourite Matt Elliott and supported by Lord Willy Bach, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicestershire, is looking for players to represent their nations of origin at the tournament.
Previous events have seen teams made up of players from Syrian, Iraqi Russian and the United States backgrounds come together through football and Abery hopes the Victoria Park event will do the same in multicultural Leicestershire.
Over 80 countries have been represented in past tournaments and Abery hopes Leicestershire football fans will make next month’s tournament one of the best.
Kapustka has 'high hopes' for City career after Rodgers chat
Bartosz Kapustka is feeling optimistic about his Leicester City future after a conversation with manager Brendan Rodgers.
The Polish winger’s City career is yet to get off the ground, three years on his from multi-million pound move from Cracovia, but Rodgers has given him “high hopes” of turning his fortunes around.
Failing to replicate the promise he showed for Poland at Euro 2016, Kapustka has made just three appearances for City, all in the FA Cup, and has spent the past two campaigns on loan at Bundesliga side Freiburg and King Power-owned Belgian outfit OH Leuven.
Kapustka, now 22, was getting regular game-time at Leuven before he suffered a cruciate ligament tear in March, ruling him out of this summer’s European Under-21 Championships.
Despite his stuttering career and serious knee injury, Kapustka is feeling upbeat thanks to his treatment by Leicester and Rodgers.
U23s in Checkatrade Trophy
Leicester City have confirmed that their Under-23 side will feature in next season’s Checkatrade Trophy.
The 2019/20 campaign will see City’s youngster’s feature in the competition for the fourth season in a row.
The Foxes are one of 16 clubs with Category 1 academies to be invited to participate.
City’s youngsters have reached the Round 3 stage of the competition over past seasons.
Next Newcastle boss
Here are the latest betting odds from Sky Bet to replace Rafa Benitez at Newcastle.
- Jose Mourinho – 6/1
- Mark Hughes – 6/1
- Garry Monk – 13/2
- Mikel Arteta – 8/1
- David Moyes – 9/1
- Patrick Vieira – 10/1
- Steven Gerrard – 11/1
- Chris Hughton – 12/1
- Eddie Howe – 20/1
Profile on Leicester and Wolves 'target' Stephane Bahoken
Leicester City have been linked with a move for Cameroon striker Stephane Bahoken.
According to reports, the Foxes have been joined by Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanders in expressing an interest in the 27-year-old forward, who currently plays for Ligue 1 side Angers.
The report also claims that the French club are will to sell Bahoken, and have talks planned with Wolves.
City are looking to strengthen in forward positions but are understood to favour a wide player who can also play centrally and provide another option to Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho in attack.
So who is the latest player to be linked with a move to the King Power Stadium?
Breaking: Benitez to leave Newcastle
Rafael Benitez will leave Newcastle when his contract expires on June 30, the club have announced.
Here is Newcastle’s statement in full:
It is with disappointment that we announce manager Rafael Benitez will leave Newcastle United upon the expiry of his contract on June 30, 2019.
We have worked hard to extend Rafa’s contract over a significant period of time, however it has not been - and will not be - possible to reach an agreement with Rafa and his representatives.
Rafa’s coaching staff, Paco de Miguel Moreno, Antonio Gomez Perez and Mikel Antia, will also leave the club on June 30.
We would like to thank Rafa and his coaching team for their efforts over the last three years and their significant contribution to what has been collectively achieved.
We would also like to thank our supporters, players and staff for their patience during a period of uncertainty.
The process to appoint a successor will now begin.
Changes at Southampton
Southampton have confirmed majority shareholder Gao Jisheng as chairman in a restructuring of the board.
Former chairman Ralph Krueger left the club towards the end of last season with his contract set to expire, and in May was announced as the new head coach of NHL franchise the Buffalo Sabres.
With Gao based in China, Martin Semmens moves into a new role as chief executive and will “lead the club on a day-to-day basis”.
Shareholder Katharina Liebherr, meanwhile, is set to rejoin the board of the St Mary’s Football Group, which is the Premier League club’s parent company.
“Following our statement at the end of last season, Southampton Football Club can confirm its board structure for the 2019-20 season and beyond,” a statement on the Southampton website read.
“Majority shareholder Mr Jisheng Gao will now take the position of chairman of the club and St Mary’s Football Group.
“Katharina Liebherr rejoins the St Mary’s Football Group board whilst Nelly Gao and Martin Semmens will also become members of the St Mary’s Football Group board and vice-chairs of the club board.
“Martin Semmens has also been appointed as CEO of Southampton Football Club, and will lead the club on a day-to-day basis.
“The management team and operations remain unchanged and the club is looking forward with new focus and determination to a successful season.”
After guiding the Saints to Premier League safety, boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has already added to his squad with the arrival of Mali winger Moussa Djenepo from Standard Liege.
Benkovic backs James Maddison after England flop at U21 Euros
Leicester City defender Filip Benkovic insists James Maddison is destined for the top despite the star’s struggles with England at the European under-21 Championships.
Benkovic will face Maddison and England - who also include fellow Foxes Harvey Barnes, Demarai Gray and Hamza Choudhury in their tournament squad - for Croatia in their final group game in Italy tomorrow.
Aidy Boothroyd’s side are already out of the competition after defeats to France and Romania, joining Croatia on an early flight home from group C.
Maddison has failed to have an impact in Italy - but Benkovic has already seen enough of the 22-year-old’s quality.
What we know about Harry Maguire's Leicester City future
Over the last few days the chat surrounding Leicester City defender Harry Maguire has intensified to the extent where it truly justifies the description of this time of year as ‘silly season’.
Last week it was reported by two national newspapers that City had agreed to sell Maguire for £65 million, way below City’s own valuation, to Manchester United and even that a medical had been arranged.
Over the weekend that chat intensified when Maguire mistakenly liked a post on Instagram linking him with Manchester United.
This morning the reports were that it was Manchester City who were favourites to sign Maguire and were willing to pay the £80 million asking price. There was even the suggestion that Maguire had told his friends he was heading to the Etihad Stadium.
Here is what we actually do know about Maguire’s future.
Celtic tell City 'don't waste your time' on McGregor
Brendan Rodgers has been told Leicester City will be wasting their time if they try to sign Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor, according to reports.
City have been strongly linked with a move for the attacking midfielder this summer and he is a player Rodgers knows well from his time as Celtic boss before switching from Parkhead to King Power Stadium in February.
However, the Scottish Mail on Sunday report that Celtic have told City not to even bother making a bid as McGregor is seen as key to former City midfielder Neil Lennon’s plans at Celtic.
The one condition that must be met for City target to be sold
Luton Town will only sell highly sought-after defender James Justin if it is beneficial to the club, says former interim boss Mick Harford.
Justin has been heavily linked with a move to Leicester City in recent weeks, along with Aston Villa and Stoke City.
It has been rumoured that City would have to pay £12m for the 21-year-old full-back, whose contract at Kenilworth Road is due to expire in 2020 but Luton have an option of a one-year extension.
Harford is currently the head of recruitment at Luton after guiding the club to promotion to the Championship as interim boss in the second half of last season, and is now working under new manager Graeme Jones.
The former striker believes that Luton will only sell Leicester target Justin if it benefits the club in the long term.
The man who saved Leicester City from oblivion
One hundred years ago this summer, Leicester Fosse Football Club faced oblivion.
The club’s transformation into Leicester City Football Club might not have happened had it not been for the injection of new capital from local industrialists.
A key figure in this respect was William Archibald Jennings (pic 01). It is regrettable that his absolutely central role in establishing Leicester City Football Club a century ago is now almost completely forgotten.
William Jennings made his money in the boot and shoe industry, which was massive in Leicester in the early 20th century, employing over 25,000 workers.
Premier League rumours
Manchester United are in the mix to sign Mauro Icardi from Inter Milan, according to the Express.
Plus, Former Everton and Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o has urged Liverpool star Mohamed Salah to leave the club.
City linked with Cameroon international striker
Leicester City have been linked with Angers striker Stephane Bahoken.
French newspaper L’Equipe has reported City have been joined by Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers in expressing an interest in the 27-year-old, who is currently with the Cameroon national squad in Eqypt for the Africa Cup of Nations.
The report claims the Ligue 1 side are willing to sell Bahoken, who scored 11 goals last season, and have talks planned with Wolves.
Greetings!
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