Danny Simpson of Leicester City has urged his team-mates to stay with the club as there is much more to come from the squad, while speculation has already begun that City's key players could be the subject of transfer bids this summer. Riyad Mahrez has been linked with a big-money move to France and Kasper Schmeichel with a switch to a Champions League club. Reports claimed that Schmeichel was on Manchester United's shortlist to replace David de Gea should the Spaniard go to Real Madrid this summer.
However, Simpson hopes all his team-mates return for pre-season training in July as he feels they can realistically push for European qualification in the next campaign. Simpson has been part of the most successful squad in the club's history, winning the Premier League and reaching the quarter finals of the Champions League, and the full-back does not believe it is the end of the era.
"It's a special club, every team is going to have other teams interested in their players and rumours of interest, but as far as I'm concerned it's a good dressing room, a great squad, and I still think there's a lot more to come from this group," he said.
"It's the same for other clubs. We hope everyone stays and builds on this experience, and it will be nice to go again next season to try to get into Europe again. "It's down to individuals. All you can do is focus on yourself. We'll go away and have a break, and get ready for pre-season." Simpson certainly does not believe City should be written off next season, despite initially facing a relegation battle in this campaign.
City eventually recovered to finish 12th but Simpson feels they are a much better side than their league finish suggests. "It's Leicester, anything is a possibility," he said, when asked if they could qualify for the Champions League again. "Playing in Europe this season, we want that again. We'll have a good break and come back in pre-season, and see what squad we've got. "I'm pretty sure that's something we'll be trying to get again, and I'm sure that's what we want and the owners want." Reports from Manchester claimed that manager Jose Mourinho had Schmeichel and Atletico Madrid's Jan Oblak on a two-man shortlist to replace de Gea.
Mourinho is said to favour the City keeper because of his Premier League experience, which would see him quickly settle in at Old Trafford. The United boss is still hopeful that de Gea will stay at Old Trafford.
However, any interest is likely to be fought off by City as Schmeichel is on a long-term contract and Leicester have no need, or desire, to sell their popular goalkeeper after his outstanding season. Schmeichel was the player of the year and the players' player of the year at the club's end-of-season awards evening.
