Wellens targets Leicester stay

The 30-year-old has recently been linked with a move to Birmingham after impressing with Sven Goran Eriksson in charge at the Walkers Stadium.

“I am not looking to move and of the clubs I have been linked to, Leicester are a bigger club than any of them,” he told the Leicester Mercury.

“Knowing my luck I would go there, they would go down and Leicester would go up.

“I look at Leicester and think if we can get into the Premier League there will be 32,000 in the Walkers Stadium every week.

“It would be a fantastic club to play for them in the Premier League.

“The manager has not spoken to me about a new contract but Gally (Paul Gallagher) was in for treatment on Tuesday and he heard about it, so he told me.

“I am happy here so I will be happy to speak to him about it.

“I think I have played quite well for him and he gives me a lot of confidence.

“I look at him; he is very calm and is a top manager. He has given me freedom to play, get on the ball and enjoy my football.

“I think he has given that to everyone and we are playing some good stuff at the moment.”

City’s assistant manager Derek Fazackerley said: “It’s a terrific sentiment from Ritchie.

“He has had an excellent spell since Sven and me came to the club, as he says, why would you want to leave a club that appears to be on the up?

“We are pleased to have Richie here, although you can’t stop speculation regarding other clubs’ players or for that matter your own.”