Ferdinand wants to stay on with Foxes

Les Ferdinand hopes to postpone his retirement for another year so that he can try to propel Leicester back into the Premiership.

Ferdinand, City’s leading scorer with 13 goals this season, was going to quit last summer before deciding he did not want to end his career with relegation at West Ham.

The 37-year-old former England striker finds himself in the same situation 12 months on, following the weekend confirmation of Leicester’s demotion.

But he will assess the effects of his forthcoming knee operation before making any final decision.

“If it is at all possible I would want to stay,” said Ferdinand.

"The reason for me playing on this season was because I felt I did not want to end my career at West Ham, and I now find myself in the same position with Leicester.

“I will sit down with the manager Micky Adams and discuss it – but most importantly I have to have this knee operation in a couple of weeks’ time.

“At this moment in time I feel I don’t want it to end like this with relegation – and I will go away in the summer and see what happens.”

Ferdinand is adamant he made the right decision in signing up for the Foxes.

“I have had no regrets about coming to Leicester. I have enjoyed my time here, although I have not enjoyed being relegated,” he said.

“There is a great team spirit, and I would like to thank Micky Adams for giving me this chance to play on in the Premiership at this stage of my career.

“The supporters have been fantastic, and I am just disappointed that we have not been able to deliver what we had hoped for at the start of the season.”

Leicester goalkeeper Ian Walker has already indicated he wants to see out the remaining 12 months of his contract at the Walker’s Stadium, despite a second relegation in three seasons.

There is speculation, though, that Foxes midfielder Muzzy Izzet may leave the club this summer when his contract expires.

Aston Villa and Birmingham are understood to be interested in signing the Turkey international, who has been at Leicester for eight years.

It is believed Villa want to offer Izzet a two-year deal, but Birmingham are prepared to give him a three-year contract.