By Simon Austin

Ranieri has transformed Parma's fortunes this season

Claudio Ranieri insists he has not been contacted by Manchester City, despite a major bookmaker closing betting on him getting the vacant manager's job there.

William Hill made the decision on Wednesday following "a flurry of support" for the Italian.

But Ranieri told BBC Sport: "Nobody has contacted me from Manchester City - I don't know anything at the moment.

"I love English football and want to work there again one day. But my mind is 100% on Parma right now."

BBC Sport understands Manchester City want a continental manager to take over from Stuart Pearce, who was sacked at the end of the season.

Louis van Gaal, Ronald Koeman and Gerard Houllier have said they are not interested in the job at Eastlands.

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Ranieri took charge of Parma in February after two years out of football.

They were 19th at the time and few gave them much hope of Serie A survival.

But the former Chelsea boss has transformed the club's fortunes - they are now 14th with only two league games remaining and have a great chance of staying up.

Ranieri's contract with the Italian side expires at the end of the season and he is the bookies' favourite for the City job.

I love the mentality and atmosphere of English football Claudio Ranieri Parma manager

He admitted a return to the Premiership could appeal.

"I love the mentality and atmosphere of English football," he said. "There are a lot of champions, a lot of good teams, and the fans are fantastic.

"I enjoyed my time at Chelsea a lot. I've been contacted by a lot of journalists about Manchester City, but not by the club."

And Ranieri insisted his focus is fully on Parma at the moment.

"We have made a lot of progress, winning three of our last five games, but not enough at the moment, because we can still go down.

"I want to finish the season very, very well. When I arrived here, nobody believed we would be safe at the end of the season.

"Now we are doing a very, very good job and must continue."