Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has confirmed he still hopes to bring in a new central midfielder before the transfer window slams shut.

The Foxes were unable to convince last season’s star Esteban Cambiasso to sign a new deal for the 2015-16 season, while Matty James faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Ranieri has brought in N’Golo Kante in a £5.6million deal from Caen since he replaced Nigel Pearson as Leicester boss earlier this summer, but the former Chelsea and Monaco boss wants to bolster his options further during the current transfer window.

“I want to build the team more or less like last season,” Ranieri told the Leicester Mercury.

“There are not the two central midfielders who played all the time last season, James and Cambiasso.

“I wanted to replace one with Kante, and another I am still waiting for.

“If it’s possible, with the same experience but younger than Cambiasso.

“The market is very difficult but the club is working very hard, 24 hours a day.

“Sometimes I go to sleep, but the people at the club do not so they can find my player.”

Napoli’s Gokhan Inler was a target but the Swiss star rejected the chance to link up with the Foxes, with Fiorentina, Schalke and Besiktas now vying for his signature.

Leicester host Sunderland in the opening round of fixtures and are 1.95 to kick off the campaign with a win.

Sunderland are 4.33 to come away with all three points and a draw is available at 3.40.