Even on the verge of signing Rodri, Joao Cancelo, and Angelino, Manchester City are not through making additions to their title-defending squad in the summer transfer window yet.

Pep Guardiola’s squad have leapfrogged rivals Manchester United in the race to sign Leicester City center-back Harry Maguire. Leicester City previously has valued McGuire at £80 million, a price both Manchester clubs refused to consider negotiating. Maguire and the club however apparently have a gentleman’s agreement allowing him to leave the Foxes this summer if he chooses to do so. With Maguire appearing keen on leaving the club, Leicester has lowered his price tag to £65 million, a price that Manchester City seem willing to pay.

City’s rival, Manchester United, have also shown interest in signing the 26-year-old, but they appear to have their work cut out for them. Maguire has made it known that his first choice is to play under Guardiola’s tutelage at Manchester City. To make matters worse, United have reportedly tried to offer Leicester City £45 for Maguire, an offer so low below the Foxes asking point that they have not enough bothered to entertain it.

Guardiola eyes Maguire as a replacement at the club for Vincent Kompany, who left Manchester City for his boyhood club RSC Anderlecht this summer after 11 seasons with Manchester City. Kompany’s leadership and personality will not be easy to replace in City’s dressing room. City probably looks at Maguire as someone who can be a leader for them as well as a first choice center back next to Aymeric Laporte.

The transfer of Riyad Mahrez would be Manchester City’s new record signing. Manchester City’s current record signing is Riyad Mahrez, who they also bought from Leicester City, last summer for £60 million. As Manchester City continues to build a squad capable of winning the UEFA Champions League, there is no doubt that Guardiola has them in a position to win as good as any other club in Europe.

Leicester City secured a 2-0 EFL Cup third-round victory over Liverpool at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday thanks to second-half goals from Shinji Okazaki and Islam Slimani.

Leicester City vs. Liverpool EFL Cup Game Score

Japanese substitute Okazaki, 31, filled in for injured Leonardo Ulloa. Okazaki picked up a loose ball inside the penalty box to open the scoring in the 65th minute.

Algerian forward Slimani doubled the lead in the 78th with a powerful left-footed strike past goalkeeper Danny Ward to earn his third goal in the competition this season.

Liverpool thus remain winless in September. Jurgen Klopp’s team will face Leicester — the 2016 Premier League champions — at the same venue in a Premier League game on Saturday.

Klopp made eight changes to the Reds’ starting lineup from Saturday’s 1-1 tie with Burnley, although Philippe Coutinho retained his spot as a starter. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made his debut as a starter with Liverpool after transferring from Arsenal — where he spent six years — at the deadline on Aug. 31. The 24-year-old midfielder signed a five-year contract with Liverpool.

Goalkeeper Ben Hamer — one of seven changes for Leicester — was called into action to keep out low shots from Coutinho and Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Leicester managed only one attempt on goal in the first half — a weak shot from  Demarai Gray that dribbled straight to Ward.

Coutinho did not appear after the break as he was replaced by teenager Ben Woodburn. The visitors struggled without their star Brazilian midfielder.

Ulloa left the field early in the second half due to a head injury.

Liverpool finished with 21 shots on goal and 70 percent possession, but Klopp said he was disgusted with his team’s play.

“That we concede like this, that makes me really, really sick,” said Klopp. “You cannot play football and do that. The story of this game is really easy to tell: we were the much better team in the first half, we played good football, we didn’t score, that’s sometimes part of football.”

“But as long as we concede goals like we conceded today, then it is quite difficult.”

LEICESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 19: Demarai Gray of Leicester City and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Liverpool battle for possession during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Leicester City and Liverpool at The King Power Stadium on September 19, 2017 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has claimed the firing of Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri ranks alongside Brexit and the election of Donald Trump as one of the most incomprehensible decisions of the past year.

Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp on Firing of Leicester Boss Claudio Ranieri: Strange

Ranieri was dismissed on Thursday. Leicester, who will be led by Craig Shakespeare and first-team coach Mike Stowell until a new manager is appointed, will next host Liverpool on Monday.

The 65-year-old Italian manager’s firing is especially stunning given that it comes just nine months after Leicester won the Premier League.

“What can I say? Am I surprised that things like this can happen? No. It is not only football,” German Klopp said at a press conference early Friday. “For me there have been a few strange decisions in 16/17: Brexit, Trump, Ranieri. Do I have to understand it all the time? Obviously not. I have no idea why Leicester did this. Everyone could see the situation in the league, the situation in the Champions League – which we are not in.”

Klopp continued, praising Ranieri as an agreeable man: “He is a really special person in this business, a really nice guy. I met him before when he visited me at Dortmund and we had a nice talk. He is a wonderful person. Maybe you have to go to Leicester and ask them why they did it. I told the players at the beginning of the week Leicester now know exactly what the problem is and we should expect the best Leicester City. You saw the Champions League game and the reaction after they scored: it was like two different games before and after they scored. Obviously they needed this goal to get confidence back. We have to think about this side and that is difficult enough.”

Despite reports of issues between the Italian and Leicester players, Klopp does not believe a manager with experience as vast as Ranieri’s would likely change his ways following last year’s Premier League title win.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, who attended Friday’s news conference with a training shirt bearing the initials ‘CR’ in solidarity with Ranieri, also spoke highly of the newly-fired manager.

“My words are my shirt with his name. It is my little homage to somebody that write the most beautiful history of the Premier League,” said Mourinho. “Somebody that deserves the Leicester stadium to be named Claudio Ranieri and he is sacked. Leicester made history two years in a row, one year because they did the most beautiful thing in the Premier League and one of most in football history, now they are also in the highlights with the decision that I think has everyone in football united because it is something very, very difficult to accept.

“It is good to realise how football is, and we need to adapt to it. I thought last season when I was sacked as a champion it was a giant negative thing, now I realise it was peanuts to what happened with Claudio.

Caption:LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MARCH 10: Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool celebrates victory with Divock Origi of Liverpool after the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 first leg match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on March 10, 2016 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Reigning Premier League champions Leicester City had a fantastic Champions League debut on Wednesday, routing Club Brugge 3-0 at Jan Breydel Stadium in Brugge, Belgium.

Leicester City Cruise Past Club Brugge 3-0 In Champions League Opener

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri had warned against expecting another perfect victory, but his side delivered nonetheless, scoring twice in the first 30 minutes.

Marc Albrighton scored the Foxes’ first-ever Champions League goal– and first in Europe since 200– before Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez netted a fantastic free-kick.

Albrighton’s goal came just five minutes in, after Brugge’s goalkeeper, Ludovic Butelle, attempted to catch the ball in mid-air. Luis Hernandez had tossed in a long throw from the right and Albrighton was hanging by the far post when Hans Vanaken inadvertently flicked the ball into Albrighton’s path.

It was the type of goal that showed why the Belgian team had lost three of their opening six games in the Jupiter Pro League and a reminder Leicester had been placed in a very convenient group.

In the 29th minute, Brugge captain Timmy Simons was booked for knocking down Jamie Vardy on the edge of the box after he lost the ball.

Mahrez got his second goal and pushed the score to 3-0 in the 62nd minute with a penalty, which was awarded after Vardy was again taken down, this time by Butelle.

Mahrez had failed to score on three of his last four penalty kicks, which led Ranieri to consider having Islam Slimani take it, but Mahrez struck it with decisiveness and power.

“If he doesn’t score I take the neck and crush the neck,” Ranieri joked.

Ranieri also added that the Champions League music brought out the best in the 25-year-old Algerian.

“Maybe the music woke him up,” Ranieri suggested.

Slimani, another Algerian who plays as a striker, made his debut with Leicester Wednesday after being bought for £29m from Sporting Lisbon. The forward played aggressively, to the point where he was booked for an unnecessary push on Bjorn Engels that saw the defender substituted due to what looked like a serious shoulder injury.

Leicester are now at the top of Group G, given that Porto and Copenhagen tied 1-1.

Just two minutes in, Club Brugge began to play aggressively, as Abdoulay Diaby skipped through Danny Drinkwater’s dive and slipped in Jose Izquierdo, but the forward’s finish was dreadful and he paid three minutes later when Albrighton netted the first goal.

A few minutes before halftime, Drinkwater came close to scoring by kicking a strong, left-footed volley that was dipping below the crossbar until Butelle tipped it over for a corner.

In other Champions League news, German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund thrashed Legia Warsaw 6-0 on Wednesday, while Manchester City–led by manager Pep Guardiola– routed Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-0.

Diaby also took a shot that hit the post at one point.

Leicester, who are ranked 16h in the Premier League, will next host Burnley FC on Saturday.

BRUGGE, BELGIUM – SEPTEMBER 14: Jose Izquierdo of Club Brugge is chased by Marc Albrighton of Leicester City during the UEFA Champions League match between Club Brugge KV and Leicester City FC at Jan Breydel Stadium on September 14, 2016 in Brugge, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Riyad Mahrez has signed a new four-year contract with reigning Premier League champions Leicester City.

Riyad Mahrez Signs Four-Year Deal With Leicester City

The 25-year-old Algerian winger had been linked with making a move to Arsenal during the summer transfer window.

However, Mahrez has chosen to follow striker Jamie Vardy in committing his future to manager Claudio Ranieri’s club until June 2020.

Wes Morgan, Kasper Schmeichel and Andy King also recently signed new contracts with Leicester.

Mahrez scored 17 goals and assisted 11 as the Foxes captured a Premier League title last season, to the surprise of many.

The Algerian, who was on target in a 2-1 defeat at Hull City in the opening game of 2016-2017, was named PFA Player of the Year following his stunning campaign.

In an interview with France Football, he said: “[The Premier League] is a super league and I would like to stay here as long as possible.

“Now, there are two or three clubs in the world, that if they come for me, it definitely makes you think, if you understand what I am trying to say.”

Ranieri said that his expectations for Mahrez, now that the winger is joining his squad, are high.

“We are now in the Champions League and we need something more to play against the big teams,” the manager said. “Now he knows very well what I want and my expectations are higher. Not only for Riyad but for all my players.

“I was so sure [he would stay], it was only speculation with first Vardy and then Mahrez and we only lost [N’Golo] Kanté. Now it’s important to stay together.

Mahrez first joined Leicester City from French second-tier team Le Havre in January 2014.

OXFORD, ENGLAND – JULY 19: Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City during the pre-season friendly between Oxford City and Leicester City at Kassam Stadium on July 19, 2016 in Oxford, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

Leicester City midfielder N’Golo Kante and Chelsea have agreed on a five-year, £30 million ($39.5 million) contract.

Leicester Midfielder N’Golo Kante Signs Five-Year, £30M Deal With Chelsea

The 25-year-old Frenchman, who played with France at UEFA Euro 2016, is joining Chelsea on a £150,000($198,000)/per week deal, and his signing is a big boost for new Italian manager Antonio Conte, who had made Kante one of his primary targets.

Kante told Leicester City that he wanted to leave the Premier League champions and on Friday night, Chelsea were finalizing his arrival.

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri has admitted he does not want to lose Kante, but conceded he understands the midfielder’s desire to leave.

“We offered a new contract to him, he went away because he wanted to finish Euro 2016, and now there is so much speculation around him,” said Ranieri. “I don’t want to lose him but I can understand if he wants to go.

“I would like now to be sure who stays with me or not, because the friendly matches start now and I have to start to manage and change and try things.”

Kante is now Conte’s second signing of the summer after Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi. The 22-year-old Belgian signed a £33 million ($43.5 million) deal with Chelsea.

Kante, who was named in the Premier League team of the season last term, joined Leicester last summer from Ligue 1 Caen for £5.6 million ($7.4 million).

Conte also said Chelsea is also seeking to sign Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly. The club had previously made four failed bids at the 25-year-old Senegalese last year, and their pursuit of him this year has been again complicated by strong rival interest from Everton that has driven up the price.

“I am sure that in the coming days we can reach our target to reinforce the team to go closer to the other teams that now seem to stay higher in the table compared to Chelsea,” Conte said of Chelsea’s need to make signings. “In the coming days, we can buy one, two, three players. Players that can reinforce us for the season as it will be very, very tough.”

MARSEILLE, FRANCE – JUNE 15: N’Golo Kante of France during the UEFA Euro 2016 Group A match between France and Albania at Stade Velodrome on June 15, 2016 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

English forward Jamie Vardy has rejected a move to Arsenal and is prepared to sign a new four-year deal with his current team, Premier League Champions Leicester City.

Jamie Vardy Rejects Arsenal Move In Favor Of Staying With Leicester City

The 29-year-old striker scored several goals for Leicester City last season, and will now be rewarded for his big role in the club with a brand new contract.

Arsenal triggered the release clause in Vardy’s contract at the start of the month and held talks with him, but Vardy ulimately decided against joining longtime manager Arsene Wenger’s team as part of a £22 million ($32 million) transfer. Although the news came as a blow to Arsenal, Wenger stated in a recent interview with Chinese television that he imagined Vardy would decide to stay with Leicester.

Leicester will now hope that Vardy’s decision to stay will strengthen their chances of holding onto two of their other leading players, N’Golo Kanté and Riyad Mahrez, as they attempt to hold together the team that became champions last month.

Vardy is set to hold talks when he returns from the UEFA Euro 2016 finals in France, where he will hope to feature for England in their last-16 game against Iceland on Monday.

“Leicester City have today (Thursday) agreed with the representatives of Jamie Vardy to extend the England international’s contract with the Premier League champions for a further four years,” said a statement on the club’s website.

“Both parties hope that this announcement will end recent speculation regarding Jamie’s future and confirm his long term commitment to Leicester City Football Club,” the statement continued.

Vardy first joined Leicester from Fleetwood Town for £1million ($1.46 million) four years ago, and perhaps feels a certain loyalty to his teammates and manager Claudio Ranieri. He scored 24 Premier League goals for Leicester last season and played a key role in their success.

Vardy’s most recent deal, which increased his wage to around £70,000 ($102,000) a week, was signed in February and runs until 2019. He was recently named the Football Writers’ Footballer of the Year and scored four times for England, including the equalizer in the 2-1 victory over Wales in Lens last Thursday.

SAINT-ETIENNE, FRANCE – JUNE 20: Jamie Vardy of England in action during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group B match between Slovakia and England at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on June 20, 2016 in Saint-Etienne, France. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater is set to be available for the team’s final Premier League match of the season after avoiding any further action in the wake of his red card in the 1-1 tie against Manchester United on Sunday. The Football Association set to confirm the news later this week.

Danny Drinkwater: After One-Game Ban, Will Play Season Finale Vs Chelsea

Drinkwater was sent off for a second bookable offense after he was called for supposedly bringing down United winger Memphis Depay, thus earning himself a one-match suspension.

However, the 26-year-old English midfielder reacted angrily towards referee Michael Oliver, and risked facing further action for failing to leave the field in an orderly fashion. This now leaves open the possibility of an FA charge of improper conduct that his teammate Jamie Vardy incurred just last month.

Allegedly, Oliver did not officially note Drinkwater’s reaction of protest in his referee’s report, and the midfielder will now, as a result, only miss Leicester’s final home game against Everton this weekend, which leaves him free to play in the final match of the season at Chelsea.

Vardy received an additional one-game ban on top of the automatic suspension alongside Drinkwater after he verbally insulted referee Jon Moss before exiting the field in the 2-2 tie against West Ham. Vardy also missed the 4-0 victory over Swansea and Sunday’s draw at Old Trafford, although he will return for the game at Everton.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctblznRze5c

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND – APRIL 10: Danny Drinkwater of Leicester City during the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Leicester City at the Stadium of Light on April 10, 2016 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)