Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri insists Danny Drinkwater will not leave the club in January amid rumours of interest from Manchester United.
Drinkwater, 26, left United to join Leicester in 2012 after coming through the academy at Old Trafford. The England international has been in tremendous form since the start of last season and was a pivotal member of Leicester’s title winning side.
Jose Mourinho is reportedly interested in bringing Drinkwater back to Old Trafford even though they were ridiculed for re-signing Paul Pogba for a world record fee this summer.
“It’s speculation,” Ranieri told Sky Sports. “I’m surprised, because it’s usually a month before the window opens that this sort of speculation starts. When big teams want our players is good for us.
“One year ago, no one was asking about our players. Now, there are big big teams asking. Now they must be proud, but continue in this way.
“He signed a new contract. He doesn’t have a clause. If he wants to go to Man Utd, OK, but we want to keep him.”
Since the start of last season no player has won possession more times in the midfield third in the Premier League than Drinkwater (218).
For more stats on Danny Drinkwater, click here to visit his WhoScored player page