Leicester ready to reward Claudio Ranieri with lucrative long-term contract

Italian Ranieri took over from Nigel Pearson on a three-year contract in July and Leicester are keen to offer him improved terms and tie him down to a long-term deal in the wake of his spectacular achievement.

"At the end of the season we will talk about that (extending Ranieri's contract) with him," Srivaddhanaprabha told British media.

"We will sit down together and when we talk about something, it's long term, not just until September. I like people to work for me when they are happy and enjoy working with the group of people."

Srivaddhanaprabha, son of Leicester's billionaire Thai owner Vichai, reiterated the club's commitment to keeping their best players and strengthening the squad in the close season.

Speculation has mounted in the days following Leicester's remarkable title triumph that the likes of midfielder Riyad Mahrez, midfield enforcer N'Golo Kante and top scorer Jamie Vardy may be lured away by bigger rivals in England or Europe.

"We will try everything that we can to build the team and to secure the same group of players and add some quality," Aiyawatt added.

"I have to talk to all of the scouts when they give me the lists. I have to talk to Claudio about which player he wants. I always support, always."

One suspects Claudio Ranieri will not be in a rush to leave behind the chemistry he has discovered in Leicester. The amiable Ranieri's body of work as a coach over 30 years was completed by his club's astonishing rise to the Premier League title having started the season as 5,000-1 outsiders to carry off the national title.

Whatever he goes on to do now, he will always be remembered as Leicester's title-winning coach, a feat that puts him up alongside the giants of the English game including figures - in no particular order - such as Brian Clough, Bob Paisley, Sir Bobby Robson and of course Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ranieri's feat is arguably better than any of those much-feted figures, but with success comes offers. It is not only Leicester's players who are in demand. Ranieri could walk into any job around Europe, but he would surely like to add to what has already been built at the King Power Stadium with a historic Champions League campaign on the horizon.

The biggest question, perhaps, is whether at the age of 64 Ranieri might tempted by the job as coach of Italy's national team? It is a question that must be worth asking. Perhaps not now, but the opportunity to lead the Azzurri must be one that appeals to any Italian as the ultimate endorsement of their coaching credentials. Leicester must move quickly to ensure their manager's ambition is met.