Mainz forward Shinji Okazaki is still holding on to his hope of a switch to the Premier League with the winter transfer window set to close on Monday.

Okazaki has been linked with a move out of the Bundesliga to last-place Leicester City, which reportedly has upped its offer to as much as €15 million ($17 million) for the Japanese international.

Okazaki did not score in Mainz's 5-0 victory over Paderborn on Saturday and was substituted for the first time this season. He leads 11th-place Mainz with eight goals in 17 league games.

"I've always wanted to play in the Premiership ever since I came to Europe and was hoping to get a chance — and I had an offer over the summer," Okazaki said, revealing that Leicester came knocking before the season had started.

"I know the situation Mainz are in at the moment, so I haven't pushed them too hard on it. I don't rate myself that highly as a player, so I think the team will be fine with just the other forwards.

"But it's nice that the club think I'm important to them. If I stay, I'll just work hard to keep Mainz up. I am at a crossroad in my career," he said.