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Leicester City's Ben Chilwell appears set to sign a new contract with the Premier League champions despite being linked with a move to Liverpool.
The 19-year-old, who has a year remaining on his current deal, is considered as one of the most exciting English talents of his generation and has featured in both the pre-season matches against Oxford United and Celtic in the past fortnight.
“He is very close [to signing a new contract] and he will stay with us,” said Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri after the penalty shoot-out success against Celtic on Saturday.
Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, was reportedly tipped off about the left-back’s talents last January by former Borussia Dortmund assistant David Wagner, who managed Chilwell during a short loan spell at Huddersfield Town last season.
The Foxes signed Demarai Gray from Birmingham City for £3.75m in part because of the manner in which the left-sided winger linked up with Chilwell on the flank while on duty for England at youth-level.
Leicester consider the Chilwell and Gray partnership to be central to their future vision for the club, highlighted by their slow but steady promotion through the ranks in the past six months.
Leicester City - transfer ins and outs
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Meanwhile, former Liverpool and current Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has backed Mahrez to stay at the club despite reports linking the Algerian with a £40m switch to Arsenal.
“He looks happy,” Rodgers said. “If he is playing well and working well, I wouldn’t say there is a need for him to move.”
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