By Wayne Veysey

6th Aug, 2016 | 7:31pm

Everton target makes emphatic decision about his future

By Alex Stevens

Kasper Schmeichel has delivered a blow to Everton by signing a new Leicester contract, it was announced on Saturday evening.

The Danish goalkeeper has been a target of the Merseysiders this summer as they overhaul their squad under new manger Ronald Koeman.

The Mail claimed last month that Everton were keen to sign the Dane, who was instrumental in Leicester’s Premier League win last season.

But Schmeichel, 29, has put paid to Goodison hopes by penning a new five-year Leicester deal.

Son of Manchester United great Peter Schmeichel, the former Leeds keeper played in all 38 of the Foxes’ league fixtures last season, keeping 15 clean sheets and conceding just 36 goals.

He has made more than 200 appearances for Leicester since arriving from Leeds United in 2011, having started his career at Manchester City.

“We’ve taken some massive steps and ever since I arrived it’s been fantastic,” Schmeichel told LCFC TV. “It was a case of coming back after winning the Premier League and making sure that the hunger was the same within myself and the squad.

“I’ve come back absolutely convinced that this is the place for me to be.”

Everton faced a challenge in convincing the Dane to abandon the lure of Champions League football at the King Power stadium, where he has become a fans favourite since joining for under £1.5million in 2011.

Koeman has already boosted his goalkeeping options this summer by signing Maarten Stekelenburg, 33, from Fulham but is still in the market for another senior shot-stopper.

In other Everton transfer news, there was a tell-tale sign a new signing is imminent after another Koeman target pulled out of his team’s pre-season friendly on Saturday.