Manchester United vs Leicester City: Claudio Ranieri says Danny Drinkwater has no release clause

Drinkwater never made a first-team appearance for United

Jack Austin
Saturday 24 September 2016 11:28 BST
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Ranieri played down hopes of lightning striking twice for Leicester
Ranieri played down hopes of lightning striking twice for Leicester

Claudio Ranieri has revealed that Manchester United target Danny Drinkwater has no release clause in his new Leicester City contract.

The England midfielder has continued his Premier League-winning form from last season into the new campaign which has led to speculation he could return to former club Manchester United, where he signed on as a trainee at the age of nine.

Drinkwater never made an appearance for the Red Devils and was farmed out on loan before joining the Foxes in 2012 for a nominal fee.

United brought a former youth team player back to Old Trafford this summer in the shape of £89m Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho is understood to be willing to part with £30m to secure another’s return.

However, Ranieri has poured cold water on the rumours, saying it is a good think his players are getting linked with big-money moves but that Leicester will not be forced to sell as there is no release clause.

"Sometimes I think maybe the newspapers don't have any news and they write some news," said Ranieri.

"I am very surprised, this often happens one month before the market opens, but he signed a new contract and everything is normal. For us it is good and for him it is good.

"I have players who a lot of big teams want, and that makes me happy, because it means we are working very well.'

(Getty Images

"This is a good process to improve because one year ago nobody was asking about our players.

"Now there are big, big teams and my players must be very proud of this but maintain their way.

"Then if something happens, it's okay, but he signed a new contract and I think he doesn't have a clause and if Manchester want him it is okay.

"We don't want to sell anybody. We want to keep our players and we showed this during the summer.

"We only lost N'Golo Kante because he had a clause but we didn't lose any other player. We want to keep all the players and all the squad and maybe improve the squad."

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