Ranieri says Schmeichel is not for sale

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has warned off Liverpool by insisting that Kasper Schmeichel is not for sale this January.

The Denmark goalkeeper, who kept 15 Premier League clean sheets last season in the Foxes' incredible title-winning season, signed a new five-year deal worth £100,000-a-week in the summer.

Liverpool and Everton have both been linked with moves for the 30-year-old, who was back to his best in Leicester's 2-2 draw at Stoke on 17 December after six weeks out with a hand injury.

Liverpool goalkeepers Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius have kept just five clean sheets between them in 18 league games this season, but Ranieri says Reds' manager Jurgen Klopp should look elsewhere for an upgrade.

"Kasper has a signature on the contract - we won’t sell Kasper until any circumstances," the Italian said.

"We don’t need money. No chance. Liverpool can win title without Kasper."

The Premier League champions are set to complete a £15million move for Genk midfielder Wilfred Ndidi in January, pending a work permit, and are working on a deal for 28-year-old Sassuolo centre-back Francesco Acerbi.

Nigeria international Ndidi said his goodbyes to the Genk crowd after the 2-0 win over Gent at the Cristal Arena on 27 December, although Ranieri refused to confirm the deal in Thursday's news conference ahead of the Foxes' home match against West Ham on Saturday.

"I don't know. Let me see him and say 'welcome, good morning', then I'll tell you. It's not my matter. Wait and the next day you will enjoy," he said.

Photo (Getty Images/ Michael Regan)

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