Friday 20 January 2017 15:23, UK
Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri says he is hopeful Leonardo Ulloa will remain at the club, despite having reportedly handed in a transfer request.
The 30-year-old has been reportedly linked with Spanish side Alaves and Sky sources reported on Thursday that he had decided his future lies away from the King Power.
However, Ranieri feels he needs the extra option in attack that Ulloa provides and thinks the striker will remain with the Premier League champions for the time being.
"Always I said I don't want to keep players who are not happy but, at the top, there is the club," said Ranieri.
"Three of us have to be happy - club, me and the player. I like Leo because he is a fantastic professional, a good player.
"I told him my impression. Now they are speaking and I think at the end he will stay with us. I want him.
"He's a striker, I only have so many strikers. There is only [Islam] Slimani to hold the ball up and I need two strikers who are very similar.
"I can understand, of course [Ulloa's frustration], because until two years ago he was used to playing every match.
"Two years ago he was the goalscorer of the team. Last season I started with Shinji [Okazaki] and [Jamie] Vardy, because he was a little late on the fitness, and they made something special."
Ulloa has started just twice this season and is out of Sunday's trip to Southampton with the thigh injury which has kept
him sidelined for the last two weeks.
One player Leicester are willing to part with is defender Luis Hernandez, who only joined in the summer but has made just four league appearances and is set to join Malaga for £1.75m.
"We have given permission to go to speak and we are waiting on what happens," said Ranieri. "If he wants to go, yes, he can go."
Addressing concerns that Leicester might be left short of defenders, Ranieri added: "We have options in defence.
"[Daniel] Amartey can play right-back and cente-back, and [Wilfred] Ndidi can play centre-back. If Leicester don't get more players, I am happy."
