Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri will understand if N'Golo Kante leaves the Premier League champions but the Italian has urged the midfielder to make a decision soon.
According to British media reports, Kante, who joined Leicester from French Ligue 1 side Caen last August, could be lured away by top clubs like Chelsea, Real Madrid and Paris St Germain.
The 25-year-old Frenchman played a pivotal role in Leicester’s title-winning season and was rewarded with a call-up to his country’s squad at the European Championship, where the hosts lost the final to Portugal.
"I would like to understand if he stays with me or not. I speak often with him. If one is not happy with me I prefer that he goes," Ranieri told British media. We offered a new contract to him, he went away because he wanted to finish Euro 2016, and now there is so much speculation around him. I don't want to lose him but I can understand if he wants to go."
Ranieri said he is optimistic of hanging on to Algeria international winger Riyad Mahrez, who won the PFA Player of the Year award last campaign.
“I am very confident with him. He stays here with us. He enjoys it and is not a man saying ‘coach I want to go’. He is happy,” Ranieri added.
Leicester, who will make their first Champions League appearance in the upcoming season, begin their Premier League title defence with a trip to promoted Hull City on Aug. 13.
AC Milan youngster Hachim Mastour headed to the Netherlands
PEC Zwolle have signed AC Milan youngster Hachim Mastour on a season-long loan.
The 18-year-old spent last season on loan to Spanish side Malaga, making one solitary appearance for them, and will now look to gain first-team experience at the Dutch club.
PEC Zwolle technical director Gerard Nijkamp was thrilled to secure the services of the Morocco international.
“With Hachim, we get a talented player in the group, who needs a platform to develop further,” he told the club’s official website.
“The fact that at 15 years old he was already on the bench says enough about his technical skills, but with his talent he needs playing time. We will give Hachim the opportunity to continue playing in the spotlight with us.”
Swiss champion Basel signs Colombia defender Eder Balanta
Swiss champion Basel has signed Colombia defender Eder Balanta from Argentine club River Plate on a four-year contract.
Basel says on its website that the 23-year-old Balanta has joined the team at a pre-season training camp in the Swiss Alps. Details of Balanta’s transfer were not disclosed.
Balanta was part of River’s Copa Libertadores-winning squad in 2015. He was also in Colombia’s squad at the 2014 World Cup and played in the win over Japan.
Basel qualified for the group stage of the Champions League after winning its seventh straight Swiss league title last season.
New Bournemouth U21 signing
Flying England Under-21 winger Jordon Ibe cost Bournemouth a reported record £15million (17.9m euros, $20m) when he signed on Thursday from their Premier League rivals Liverpool.
The 20-year-old – capped four times at Under-21 level – signed a four year contract with the ‘Cherries’ before joining them on their tour of the United States having given up hope of regular first team football at Liverpool.
PSG look to Patrick Kluivert as director of football
French champions Paris St Germain have appointed former Netherlands international Patrick Kluivert as the club’s director of football, the Ligue 1 side said.
The former Ajax Amsterdam and Barcelona striker had a coaching stint as the manager of Curacao and was an assistant coach for Netherlands under manager Louis van Gaal.
“I am extremely honoured to join such a great club as Paris St Germain and to take on the role of director of football,” Kluivert told the club’s website(www.psg.fr). “I will conduct my mission with great ambition and rigor.
“We are all in Paris to reach the very high objectives set by the club and meet the expectations of the players and supporters alike.”
PSG appointed former Sevilla boss Unai Emery as their manager last month.
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