Bye bye Bamba?

Sol Bamba: Swapping Thai for Indian

Foxes' defender Sol Bamba is poised to leave the club and switch to Premier League Blackburn Rovers in a deal thought to be worth £3 million.

Rovers' manager Steve Kean has confirmed he is chasing the 26-year-old Ivorian international - and had an offer accepted. The Lancashire club need cover in defence after the sale of Phil Jones, who joined Manchester United for an incredible £17 million earlier this summer. Meanwhile he is also keen to fend-off interest in the highly-rated Christopher Samba.

"We are quite close," said Kean, "An offer has been put in and we are trying to progress that although it is slow. The good news is it hasn't been rejected so we are moving forward."

Bamba would certainly fit the mould at Ewood Park, with Blackburn struggling for survival in the top flight last season - a far cry indeed from their title-winning days in 1994-95. The Ivory Coast international has become a fans' favourite after his move to the King Power Stadium last season, as he scored three goals in his first two appearances for Leicester.

Sven Goran Eriksson is yet to comment on the interest in Bamba, but he has already secured cover for the Leicester City defence following the signing of Sean St Ledger from Preston. He also offered contracts to Michael Ball, who played ninety minutes in the Foxes' 4-1 League Cup victory against Rotherham last night, and popular centre half Aleksandar Tunchev. According to reports from BBC Leicester, however, the Foxes are not negotiating with Blackburn over any agreed offer.