Claudio Ranieri in last-ditch attempt to hijack Francesco Totti move?

Claudio Ranieri has stepped up his pursuit to bring Francesco Totti to Leicester City by personally contacting the Roma striker, according to a report.

The 39-year-old is largely expected to join American side New York Cosmos for the swansong of his illustrious career, but the Premier League leaders have also been heavily linked in the past.

It is claimed by The Sun that Ranieri has now phoned the World Cup winner - who has spent his entire career to date at Roma - in a last-ditch attempt to convince him to head to England instead.

Totti previously played under Ranieri in the Italian capital when the current Leicester boss took charge between 2009 and 2011.