Leicester 20/1 to defend title next season

Cape Town - Shock 2015/16 English Premier League champions Leicester are 20/1 to defend their title next season.

Claudio Ranieri's team, who started the current season as rank 5 000/1 outsiders for glory, stunned all and sundry to claim their first ever Premier League title since the club was founded in 1884.

Thanks in main to standout performances by striker James Vardy (24 goals) and winger Riyad Mahrez (17), Leicester were crowned champions a fortnight before the end of the season.

They currently enjoy a 10-point lead atop the standings ahead of their final match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday (kick-off at 16:00 SA time).

Leading SA bookies Sportingbet have wised up to the threat The Foxes pose, and have installed them as 20/1, seventh-favourites to go back-to-back and retain their title in the 2016/17 season.

Manchester City, under new manager Pep Guardiola next campaign, have been installed as early favourites at 15/8, followed by Arsenal and Chelsea (11/2) and Tottenham (13/2).

Manchester United (7/1) and Liverpool (8/1) follow next.

Worth a sneaky wager ... ?