Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri has stated that Kasper Schmeichel will not leave the Foxes for Liverpool in the January transfer window.
Ranieri has ruled out the possibility of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel leaving reigning Premier League champions Leicester City in the upcoming transfer window, amid speculation linking him with a move away from the club.
“Kasper has a signature on a contract,” Ranieri said, according to ESPN.
“We won’t sell Kasper under any circumstances. We don’t need money. No chance. Liverpool can win the title without Kasper.”
The former Manchester City goalkeeper was pivotal in guiding the Foxes to their first ever Premier League title. Against all odds, Ranieri’s men battled week in and week out until they were mathematically assured of tasting glory.
Schmeichel kept 15 clean sheets throughout the course of Leicester’s title-winning campaign and conceded a mere 36 goals. He also averaged an impressive 2.2 saves per goal (via Squawka), which in turn helped Leicester build a solid foundation en-route to lifting the trophy.
After coming into the spotlight, a number of Leicester players were heavily linked with moves to a number of top European sides. Jamie Vardy for one, had his release clause triggered by Arsenal, but the striker decided to stay put at the King Power.
However, Ranieri failed to hold on to his midfield lynchpin N’Golo Kante who joined Chelsea for £30 million. The Frenchman was the glue that stuck the Foxes together last term and his absence is proving to be fatal, as the defending champions are in dire straits this time around.
Leicester City have laid down the marker by refusing to let go of Schmeichel, and it will have come as a huge blow to Liverpool who are having goalkeeping problems of their own this term.
While the Reds look flawless in attack, they appear equally frail on the defensive front. Jurgen Klopp’s men have struggled to deal with set pieces time and again this season, and new signing Loris Karius has been stuck in a vortex of despair.
The former Mainz goalkeeper has looked like a shadow of a keeper this season and appears to lack the confidence he did in his native Germany. The 23-year-old has made some glaring errors that has forced Klopp to drop him from the starting eleven.
Taking his place is Simon Mignolet – who has been in a similar predicament for the past two seasons. While Klopp is expecting Karius to bounce back soon, he will be looking to sign a quality keeper to serve as first-choice.
With Schmeichel no longer an option, the German will have to look elsewhere to sign a quality shot-stopper. Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has been linked with a move to Anfield, and Klopp could make a move for him once the window is open.
