"?Leicester City are believed to have formally offered new contracts to sturdy goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and midfield engine Danny Drinkwater as the clubs looks to preserve the core of last of last season's Premier League title-winning squad as best they can.
The Foxes have already been forced to bid farewell to N'Golo Kante, snapped up by Chelsea for £32m, but are determined not to let others follow the Frenchman out of the door.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Schmeichel and Drinkwater are both considering improved deals worth around £80,000-per-week. It would represent a significant pay rise on their current salaries, with Leicester hoping to match what either could expect to earn if they were to move to other clubs.
It is suggested that Leicester are to step up negotiations and hope to have both players tied down before the start of the season in three weeks' time.
Schmeichel, formerly of Notts County and Leeds, was linked with a big money to Everton only this week, while Drinkwater has been the subject of speculation in the past as well. Liverpool are one of the clubs the England international has been linked with in recent months.
Leicester have already convinced 24-goal striker Jamie Vardy to turn down the chance of a high-profile move. The ex-non-league star turned down a £20m switch to Arsenal to agree a new four-year contract at the King Power Stadium last month.
Wes Morgan penned a three-year contract on Wednesday, while manager Claudio Ranieri has also expressed confidence that PFA Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez will stay despite rumours of interest from Chelsea, Manchester City and Barcelona.
"I think everybody here is happy. It's finished, the market has finished. [Mahrez] wants to stay," the Italian explained earlier this week.
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