Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has insisted that the team's in-form striker Riyad Mahrez will not be leaving the club in the January 2016 transfer window.

The Foxes find themselves surprisingly topping the Premier League table at Christmas for the first time in their 131-year history on 38 points, two ahead of second-placed Arsenal.

Much of Leicester's success has stemmed from having two of the league's outstanding performers in top scorer Jamie Vardy (15 goals) and Algerian Mahrez, who has scored 13 and laid on a further seven.

Mahrez's astonishing form has caused much speculation in the media that the Algerian could be a transfer target for many of Europe's biggest clubs when the transfer window opens in January.

Riyad Mahrez
Riyad Mahrez has been linked with a move to Old Trafford Getty

However, Ranieri remains adamant that the winger is happy at Leicester and can improve at the club where he is a seen as 'a king'.

"He will stay with us, he wants to stay with us. We want to keep him and that is it. He has to improve, he has to improve. And when improve him, improve the team. And when the team is improved, why would you want to go away? He is a king here," said Ranieri.

"For him it is important to grow with the team because it is one thing if you are at the bottom and you fight and nobody knows you, but now everyone is speaking about to talking about you and maybe that is pressure. You have to manage this kind of pressure. And for him it is important to manage very well this stress. Everybody is talking about him," added the Italian.

Leicester City have only lost once in the league so far this season, but will face a tough test over the Christmas period. The Foxes travel to Liverpool on Boxing Day before entertaining Manchester City at The King Power Stadium three days later.

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