Leicester City identify first additions to next season’s squad

If Arsenal, Liverpool or either of the Manchester clubs get wind of this, they'll be dialling +34 for Spain.

Claudio Ranieri is looking to strengthen his Premier League-winning squad and will do so before the summer holidays begin. The Italian is expected to bolster his squad with five or six signings but, for now, two will do. The Foxes have been scouting Deportivo La Coruña striker Lucas Pérez and central defender Luis Hernández. The signings will provide cover for Jamie Vardy, Wes Morgan and Robert Huth. Lucas has scored 17 goals for Deportivo this season and, at one stage, netted in seven successive games. That equalled a 22-year-old club record set by Brazilian striker Bebeto. The 27-year-old has yet to be capped internationally and, as his contract would not expire until 2019, would cost Leicester more than the £9 million they splashed on Andrej Kramaric in January 2015. The Croatian striker is currently on loan with Hoffenheim. The Guardian reports that Leicester are in 'advanced negotiations' with Sporting Gijon for Hernández. The 27-year-old Spaniard was with Real Madrid's youth set-up and has been a regular with Gijon for the past four seasons. The newspaper claims they may get one more La Liga player while they are at it before withdrawing to Leicester and yanking up the drawbridge as they go. If they can carry out another summer of astute business while hanging onto Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kante, they should be well set for next season.