Thursday 18 August 2016 22:59, UK
Danny Drinkwater is close to agreeing a new contract with Leicester as the club continue to tie down their star players.
The England international is in talks with the Foxes to extend his deal and follow a host of key names in pledging their future to the Premier League champions.
Riyad Mahrez signed a new contract on Wednesday with Jamie Vardy, Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan and Andy King all extending their terms this summer.
Boss Claudio Ranieri confirmed the club are edging towards an agreement with Drinkwater, who has been relaxed about his future.
"I think Drinky is very, very close," he said, ahead of Saturday's visit of Arsenal. "I am very happy with Drinky, he had a fantastic season and I am sure also he can improve as he has more confidence. He can extend his career here."
Drinkwater signed a four-year deal in 2014, after Leicester won promotion to the Premier League, and was instrumental as they won the title last season. He forced his way into the England team and won three caps but was left out of their final Euro 2016 squad.
The 26-year-old formed an impressive midfield partnership with N'Golo Kante but the France international left to join Chelsea in July.
Kante is the only player to leave who Ranieri wanted to keep - with the boss prepared to let Gokhan Inler and Ritchie de Laet go - and he admitted he got it wrong by thinking Kante would stay.
He said: "If I am honest, no-one. I thought everybody wanted to stay with Leicester and continue to fight. I made a mistake. One did want to go. Kante is finished. It is not an excuse now because there isn't Kante."
The Italian is determined to keep Jeff Schlupp but West Brom are preparing another bid for the Ghana international having had a £12m offer rejected; Schlupp wants to play more regularly having made only 14 Premier League starts last season.
