Ahmed Musa to Leicester City: Claudio Ranieri confident Foxes will sign new striker

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri is confident the Premier League leaders will sign a striker before tonight’s 11pm transfer deadline.

CSKA Moscow’s Ahmed Musa is high on the Foxes’ wish list as they look to fill the void left by Andrej Kramarić’s loan departure to Hoffenheim but CSKA are confident he will remain at the club unless an offer in excess of £20m is received.

The Nigeria captain has scored 10 goals in 29 appearances this season and possesses the brand of versatility sought after by the now-acclaimed Leicester scouting network. Ranieri has been linked with a host of forwards, including Chelsea’s Loïc Rémy, after missing out on Italy international Éder to Internazionale. Crystal Palace frontman Dwight Gayle is another option.

But the Italian, speaking ahead of the clash against Liverpool on Tuesday night, said: “Always I'm positive but now, believe me, I am very focused on the next match. There are other people involved in the negotiations.

“Everything is done [identifying players] and now it is their job. My job is thinking about the team. [The squad] is enough because my team is so strong. It doesn't matter.

“If a player arrives or doesn't arrive, it's the same. If someone arrives I'm happy because these kind of players can help us. That's it. I am always confident.”

Leicester have completed a trio of transfers during this window but a new forward continues to allude the surprise League leaders. Demarai Gray signed from Birmingham City for £3.7m before Copenhagen’s Daniel Amartey followed the England under-21s star to the King Power Stadium. Denmark youth-level international goalkeeper Daniel Iversen also joined from Esbjerg last week.