Friday 19 August 2016 23:20, UK
Leicester winger Jeff Schlupp is now contemplating a transfer request after the club's refusal to let him speak to West Brom, according to Sky sources.
The 23-year-old is deeply unhappy at not being allowed to talk to West Brom after they bid £12m for the player last Friday.
The Baggies have had two bids rejected by the Premier League champions, who are adamant that he is not for sale, and another source has told us Leicester will stand firm and keep the player.
At his pre-match news conference, Claudio Ranieri insisted Schlupp is happy and will stay at the club.
"He's staying with us, he's very happy. Always good news," Ranieri said.
We understand that for the bid to be worth anywhere near £12m, a set of unlikely circumstances would have to come to pass over the length of the contract.
Schlupp was told recently by Ranieri that he could not guarantee him first-team football while West Brom boss Tony Pulis is frustrated at the impasse.
He said: "Obviously we made an offer and the understanding was that the lad wanted to play first-team football.
"I think he would have been keen to come to us but they are the team that hold the player and they have to decide whether they want to let him go or not.
"We can't do anything about that. If they want to keep him at Leicester so be it. He's under contract.
"That's the way it goes. I've been involved in a lot of transfers and I have been in situations where the deal has fallen through at the last minute for no reason at all, or clubs have just pulled the player back because someone has got
injured or a manager has had a change of mind.
"Up until they sign that contract - that's why it's very important you try to keep things as close to your chest as possible."
The Ghana international has been at Leicester since signing youth forms in 2005. He played 23 times for the club last season.
