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Thursday Thoughts: preseason friendly, rumors, and more

Announcement of a preseason friendly and some intriguing transfer rumors that really make it feel like you've won the title.

By Dan Shulman
Michael Regan/Getty Images

PRESEASON FRIENDLY

It's already been revealed that Leicester City will be playing in the International Champions Cup this summer, and now a new friendly match has been slated for July.

Oxford United will welcome the Foxes for a 19 July friendly at the Kassam Stadium. It will be Leicester's first visit to Oxford since 2010 and is currently the only domestic friendly on the schedule.

Leicester City assistant coach Craig Shakespeare and Oxford manager Michael Appleton worked together at West Brom. The former partners continued friendship allowed the newly-promoted League One side the opportunity to host the Foxes.

RUMORS

If these transfer rumors don't truly make it feel like Leicester won the title, I don't know what will.

Arsenal's Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain along with Southampton's Shane Long are all linked with a possible move to Leicester. Yes, you read that right. Players from other English top clubs are being rumored to be joining Leicester.

Theo Walcott was reportedly sought after by LCFC boss Claudio Ranieri, but the player was "not interested." Arsene Wenger repeated this sentiment by stating he did not want Walcott to leave the Emirates.

As for Oxlade-Chamberlain, a move to the King Power could be very possible. Out since February with a knee injury, Ox is the experienced star that Ranieri is looking to add to the Leicester squad. Ox has proven he can play at the highest level, and looks to be falling out of favor with the Gunners thanks to the resurgence of Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere.

Shane Long, on the other hand, might be taking a similar path to Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana: joining Liverpool. However, Independent Ireland has stated that Leicester is prepared to challenge Liverpool for the signature of Long.

Long, coming off his best season yet, plays a unique style at striker, different from Jamie Vardy, Shinji Okazaki, and Leonardo Ulloa. His acquisition would be a perfect fit to replace the departed Andrej Kramaric in order to add depth to the Leicester strike force.

VARDY

Jamie Vardy finally tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, Rebekah, on Wednesday. His wedding means that the England striker will miss Friday's international friendly match against Australia at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.

Check out who was at Vardy's wedding yesterday.

CAPTAIN MORGAN

The popular adult beverage is available at the Leicester fan shop for a limited time, but with a different look. Instead of the traditional red coat, the captain is wearing blue and bears the face of Foxes skipper Wes Morgan.

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