Mahrez told me he is staying at Leicester - Ranieri

The Foxes' star player has been linked with a move to Arsenal and Chelsea throughout the transfer window but the coach insists he will not be leaving the King Power Stadium

Riyad Mahrez will be part of Leicester City's Premier League title defence, according to boss Claudio Ranieri.

Mahrez scooped the PFA Player of the Year award last season after a succession of dazzling performances inspired Leicester to an improbable triumph.

Heavyweight clubs from home and abroad have been linked to Ranieri's heroes during the close season but N'Golo Kante stands as the only major departure from the King Power Stadium after Chelsea met the France midfielder's buyout clause.

Jamie Vardy spurned Arsenal's advances by signing a contract extension and, after Ranieri penned his own four-year renewal on Wednesday, he expects Mahrez to be at his disposal for the foreseeable future despite numerous reported suitors for the Algeria winger.

"He stays with us," Ranieri told Sky Sports. "We wanted to keep all our players. Of course, Kante had the clause and Chelsea paid the clause.