Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri warns suitors off in-form Jamie Vardy

Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri has warned that it would take 'a lot of money' to prise the in-form Jamie Vardy away from the King Power Stadium.

The 28-year-old has scored seven times this season to lead the way for the Premier League golden boot, and the Italian has advised potential suitors that he would be far from cheap.

"If I am the owner, a lot, a lot, a lot. Do you want Jamie? Give me a lot of money," he told a press conference. "We want to keep him and we want to keep hold of all our best players but if there are some teams who want to spend money 'OK', we'll re-start and we'll see another good player. At this moment we'll enjoy with Jamie.

"Our project is very, very good. I understand players want to achieve something early. I think for Jamie, not only for Jamie but all of the players, it's important to do what they feel, what their heart, soul and brain says.

"I can say 'you stay here' or 'you go' - no. I want only happy players, that is my philosophy. I don't want to keep somebody who doesn't want to stay. Jamie is so happy."

Vardy, whose contract expires in 2018, was at Fleetwood Town as recently as 2012.