Ranieri wants to keep Drinkwater

Cape Town - Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri has shrugged off reports linking Premier League winner Danny Drinkwater with a return to Manchester United.

The 26-year-old midfielder graduated from the United academy in 2008, but eventually left Old Trafford in 2012 after failing to make a single appearance for his hometown club.

The Red Devils' loss was the Foxes' gain as Drinkwater helped the East Midlands outfit win the Championship title in 2014, before going on to triumph in the top flight against all odds last season.

The Mancunian went on to earn his first senior cap for England earlier this year and was named man of the match in a 2-1 friendly defeat to the Netherlands on March 29.

Ranieri is unconcerned about the speculation, although a bit surprised, and insists he has no desire to sell Drinkwater, who committed his long-term future to the English champions during the off-season.

Speaking ahead of his side's trip to United on Saturday, the Italian said: "I'm very surprised because often it happens one month before the market and not now.

"[Drinkwater] signed a new contract and everything is normal. I think he doesn't have a clause. We don't want to sell anybody. We want to keep our players.

"When I have a player who is wanted by big teams I am very happy because that means we are working very well.

"Sometimes I say maybe the newspaper doesn't have some news and they write some news - this is OK. That is my idea."