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Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez priceless - Claudio Ranieri

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Fans dream, players calm - Ranieri

Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez are not for sale, according to Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri after his side returned to the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 win over Chelsea.

Striker Vardy scored his 15th goal of the season from Mahrez's cross before the Algeria winger netted a superb 11th league goal.

"No-one can buy Vardy or Mahrez in January," said Italian Ranieri, 64.

"They don't have the money and they don't have a price."

Vardy, who is the Premier League's top scorer, was playing non-league football four years ago and arrived at Leicester for about 拢1m in 2012.

Mahrez was playing in the second tier in France before the Foxes signed him in January 2014 for a reported fee of 拢400,000.

The pair have been instrumental in Leicester's rise to the top of the league, where they lead second-placed Arsenal by two points.

After 16 games last season Leicester, then managed by Nigel Pearson, were bottom of the league.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Riyad Mahrez turned Cesar Azpilicueta inside out before scoring Leicester's second goal

'I want to continue the dream'

Despite making their best start to a top-flight season in their 131-year existence, Ranieri insisted his first target was to reach 40 points - the figure usually quoted by managers in order to consider their side

The Foxes achieved that goal last season with only one game left, but Ranieri, who took over from Pearson in the summer, said he wanted to join the Leicester fans in dreaming of more.

"I told my players, five more points and we are safe," the former Chelsea boss said.

"I put that target at the beginning of the season. When we achieve 40 points, we will change our goal.

"There was a lot of electricity tonight. Without that we are a normal team, but with the fans pushing us we are very happy. They continue to dream, but we must continue to keep our feet on the ground.

"It's a magical time, we must continue to work hard because I don't want to wake up. I want to continue to dream with our fans."

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