Kasper: I Want To Be At Leicester

The Denmark international goalkeeper, so impressive during his first two years at King Power Stadium, has been the subject of considerable media speculation this summer, including wholly inaccurate reports that he had submitted a transfer request.

But the 26-year-old custodian, enjoying an extended summer break due to his post-season international commitments, has his sights firmly fixed on another promotion charge with City next term.

Speaking exclusively to , Kasper said: "It's been a strange summer, coming to terms with what happened to the team at the end of last season and not getting much of a break due to internationals, but there has never been a thought in my mind that I wouldn't be coming back to Leicester.  

"I've said many times before that I enjoy playing for this Football Club, I enjoy coming to work every day and I want to be successful here.

"You hear speculation of things you're supposed to have said or done like handing in transfer requests and it's just ridiculous. I've never said I wanted to leave Leicester.

"Like every professional, I want to play at the highest level, but I want to do that with Leicester and, with the players, management, staff and fans we have here, I know we can achieve that.

"It's a big season coming up for us now. We need to make sure we're focused on what we want to achieve and work harder than anyone else to make sure we achieve it."

While the majority of his team-mates reported for testing this week ahead of pre-season officially getting underway on Monday, Schmeichel is among those benefitting from an extended break.

After playing his 53rd domestic game of the campaign in the play-off defeat to Watford on 12 May, City's vice captain joined up with Morten Olsen's Denmark squad for internationals against Georgia and Armenia, meaning his season only finished on 11 June. 

He'll link up with Nigel Pearson's City squad at their training camp in Austria in mid-July and expects to join a squad galvanised by the nature of last season's dramatic climax.

"The way last season ended was painful for all of us, but that kind of experience will make us stronger as a group and I'm sure we can come back better for it this season," he said. 

"There are some big characters in our dressing room - it's a squad full of players that want to do well for this Club and mount a big challenge next year. The Championship is always a tough league to do well in, but we know as a group what we're capable of.

"We've seen the fixtures come out, which normally acts as a little jolt that the season is just around the corner, and when Middlesbrough comes around , we'll be ready."

A Club spokesman added: "Kasper has been the subject of considerable speculation this summer and the Club wishes to re-iterate that he has not requested a transfer, is not for sale and remains a committed and key member of Nigel Pearson’s squad as we prepare for another push for promotion to the Premier League in the 2013/14 season."