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Leicester City are no longer a feeder club and will be able to fight off interest in James Maddison and other stars, club icon Emile Heskey believes.

City have sold a key player to a ‘big six’ side in each of the past four summers – N’Golo Kante, Danny Drinkwater (both Chelsea), Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) and Harry Maguire (Manchester United) – and speculation is rife that Maddison and Ben Chilwell will be the next players targeted.

Attacking midfielder Maddison has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford, while United, Man City and Chelsea all have a reported interest in England left-back Chilwell.

But Heskey believes Leicester are now in a position where they can stand their ground.

“I think Leicester are moving away from being a feeder club,” Heskey told bwin. “They’ve lost a few big names over the last couple of seasons, but there is no need for Leicester to sell anyone else. The team is developing so strongly and it doesn’t deserve to be called a feeder club.

“They have got brilliant facilities, a nice stadium, a brand new training facility, so they’re motoring in the right direction to compete with the top teams.

“When teams start knocking on the door of the top teams, they create a shop window for their players and you will lose a few, but then it gets to a point where you cut that off and start to build around your top players.

“Leicester are under no pressure to sell Maddison and I expect they’ll fight off any interest. They don’t need the money and I think it’s fully in [Brendan] Rodgers’ hands whether he leaves or not.

“Rodgers will want Maddison to stay and I don’t think there is any reason for Maddison to want to move elsewhere when he is getting support and lots of game-time at the club.

“Rodgers will be building his game plans around Maddison, which means that Maddison suits what Rodgers wants to do at Leicester. He look confident and happy, so I doubt he’ll be having any thoughts on leaving.

“Clubs are always going to enquire, as they do with any top talent, but Leicester have become a more attractive proposition and I’m confident he will stay.”

Maguire was the most recent big name to leave the King Power Stadium, but the blow of the England centre-back’s departure has been lessened by the fee received – £80m representing a world record for a defender – and the form of Caglar Soyuncu.

“Maguire leaving Leicester was a win-win situation for both clubs, and I think Leicester will be more happy with the deal,” Heskey said. “They received very good money for Maguire and Soyuncu has taken over seamlessly.

“The fans had worries but he has quashed any concern that may have existed at the start of the season with his excellent performances.

“Maguire leaving Leicester meant a big cash influx for the club and they had Soyuncu progressing and needing games, so it was the right decision to let Maguire go to Manchester United, who were in need of him.

“It was important for Leicester to get a player like Maguire, who wanted to be defending, winning headers and getting involved in tackles – and they have that in Soyuncu.”

Despite previous links to Arsenal and Chelsea, star striker Jamie Vardy has never been tempted away from City.

Heskey suspects the 32-year-old will see out his career at the King Power Stadium.

(Image: Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images)

“I think Jamie Vardy will retire at Leicester, he won’t leave the club,” Heskey added. “He’s still got a lot of games left in him and he seems to get better with age.

“Vardy will be at Leicester for a long time yet – he looks younger and younger by the season. He’s quicker than he ever has been and is definitely one of the fastest in the Premier League. He’s loved at the club.”