Leicester City's march toward the title continued yesterday afternoon with another hard-fought 1-0 victory, this time over top-four chasing Southampton.
With much of their swashbuckling attacking play sacrificed in recent weeks, Claudio Ranieri's side have exhibited the grit and determination to win the Premier League.
They sit seven points clear of Tottenham at the top of the table and with one hand on the trophy, fans are already starting to dream.
However, the achievement of the club may come at a price; the relentless speculation linking their finest players away from the club.
Speaking on this week's Monday Rewind, ex-Ireland international Paddy Mulligan reckons that Jamie Vardy, Danny Drinkwater and Riyad Mahrez may struggle to have the same impact at the so called "bigger clubs" that they have had for Leicester this year.
"The likes of Vardy, Drinkwater and Mahrez, they shouldn't even be thinking of going anywhere... They should be happy in their own environment. Who's to say they'll be a success at another club that they have been at Leicester City?
"They have a great thing going at Leicester, they might not fit in at another club... Just take for example if they go to Liverpool or Manchester United the expectation there is colossal. Could they meet that expectation? There in a bit of a comfort zone because nobody has expected them to be in this position, but now they're there and they're enjoying it.
Riyad Mahrez celebrates after scoring against Watford at the Vicarage Road, in March (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
"So while they're enjoying it I'd be inclined to say 'Look'it lads, give Ranieri money during the summer, add to the squad if possible and let's go again."
Mulligan insisted that although he would like to see the players stay with the club, it is probable they will leave in the summer.
"The romantic in me would like to see them stay but the realist will say that one or two players will probably move on. If they do move on, I hope they're very successful, but I would have grave doubts about it.
"Mahrez suits Leicester down to the ground, Vardy suits Leicester down to the ground. I don't think Mahrez, for instance, would be the player that he is at Leicester at any place else.
"Again it comes down to the expectation. He'll go to a much bigger club than Leicester and he may not be able to handle that expectation. At those sort of clubs, they expect to win the leagues, Champions Leagues and cups. At Leicester City , nothing like that was expected.
"Look at the Southampton players who went to Liverpool thinking it'll be a dawdle but because the expectation will be so big, rightly or wrongly, that's what happened."
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