Leicester City may not have signed any new players so far this summer, but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of potential deals in the pipeline. There has been no shortage of names linked to the club, with varying degrees of accuracy. The fact that it is publicly known that City's owners will support manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, inset, in the transfer market this summer has generated plenty of interest within the game, both in the media and among players and agents, who see City as an attractive destination. As a result, the names of players linked to the club has been growing day by day. Some have been legitimate, but some have been the product of agents and players trying to get the best deals possible for their clients and themselves. After the release of Ricardo, it is no secret that Eriksson has been in the market for a goalkeeper, and he has been linked with a fair few. City did look at Keiren Westwood, but he is set to join Sunderland, and Shay Given was wanted by Eriksson, but he has suggested he would be open to a move to Celtic if Manchester City sell him. There have been unconfirmed reports of a £2 million bid for Leeds United's Kasper Schmeichel, while Egypt international El-Hadary has been quoted as saying he is in advanced talks with City, although he is an unlikely target. Wolverhampton Wanderers' Carl Ikeme has also been mentioned, while the latest name to crop up has been Huddersfield Town's Alex Smithies. The young keeper is highly-rated and well known to City's assistant manager Derek Fazackerley. Smithies may not quite be ready to challenge Chris Weale as the No.1 and it is debatable whether Ikeme is an improvement on Weale. Of those linked, Schmeichel would be an excellent signing, but it is doubtful Leeds would want to sell to a promotion rival. Eriksson's defensive plans have hinged around his attempts to sign former loanees Jeff Bruma and Patrick van Aanholt from Chelsea, Ben Mee from Manchester City and Kyle Naughton from Tottenham Hotspur. Eriksson has also said he would like to bring Miguel Vitor back from Benfica for another spell with the club. City have previously made an enquiry about free agent John Pantsil, who is leaving Fulham, but the right-back's wage demands cooled their enthusiasm. The fact that Andy King, Yuki Abe, Richie Wellens and Matt Oakley are entrenched in the squad, City's engine room will need only a few additions, and Neil Danns has been strongly linked. An enquiry has been made but no deal offered to the midfielder, who now looks set for Rangers anyway. There is no doubt, though, that at least one midfielder will be arriving this summer. There has been no shortage of strikers linked. Yakubu is drawing out his proposed permanent move to City, while Diomansy Kamara is unlikely to return. A move for Bristol City's Nicky Maynard is in the pipeline, while talks with David Nugent are on-going. Marlon King was considered before his move to Birmingham City and Eriksson would love to sign Emile Heskey. But the Aston Villa man may not feel ready to drop into the Championship yet. Robert Earnshaw has also been suggested as a possibility. There will be more names thrown into the hat as the countdown to the season continues. But only when the new signings begin to arrive at the Walkers Stadium will we be able to see fruits of Eriksson's, and new football director Andrew Neville's, labours.
Very nice overview of recent activity...... Really excited about the new season the prospect of Maynard / Heskey has got me salivating !
It ia all well and good all these rumours and speculations about the possibility of players signing but until we have confirmation it means nothing All over twitter the past few days all we have heard is Nugent to sign,Nugent has signed,Nugent has medical but unfortunately nothing We still keep droning on about Yakubu but he has shown his true colours and they are not the blue of Leicester Heskey,will not be coming and realistically I cant see Maynard coming either I find all this speculation frustrating and all I see it doing on the social sites is getting peoples hopes up for nothing---------rant over
