Ranieri keen to add another central midfielder at Leicester

His axing dismayed fans and players alike and successor Claudio Ranieri, 63, must win over supporters and the dressing room.

Sunderland attacked throughout the entire 90 minutes, however neither team lacked a final product, indicative of both teams’ seasons.

It has emerged that Benalouane is set to join Leicester City for a fee believed to be in the region of around €8million and the transfer is on the verge of completion within the next few days.

The last Foxes player to score against Sunderland was a 20 year old Matty Fryatt.

Louis van Gaal’s debut season at Old Trafford showed promise as they got back into the top four, but there are still questions to be asked of their back four and the Dutchman’s playing style.

He said: “I think now there are a lot of Tinkermen in the Premier League”. Before that they played in November 2014 and that game also ended in a goalless draw.

Leicester pulled off the “great-escape” last season to beat the drop. He will have no room for leverage at the King Power though, where early results against the likes of Sunderland, West Ham, Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Stoke will be vital.

“They must continue, not now, but a hard moment will arrive this season”.

After avoiding relegation by the skin of their teeth last season, Sunderland have looked to strengthen their squad this summer. With the move made permanent last summer, he registered one goal in 27 appearances during the previous campaign. The German should be the first name on the team sheet and if he can repeat what he achieved last season Leicester could push for a higher league position.

City announced the contract extension after Mahrez impressed last term as they stayed in the Premier League.

Ranieri, who was speaking at just his second press conference as the new Leicester boss, is adamant it is important for him to settle in the county as quickly as possible.

Leicester City finished fourteenth in the league last season with 41 points.

An impressive away win against Southampton at the start of September was followed by home losses to Swansea and Newcastle, but the Foxes rallied to get a 2-2 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge at the end of the month. I saw one man, together.