Foxes favourite to land Vardy

Wanted man: Fleetwood's Jamie Vardy

Leicester City have emerged as favourites for the signature of Fleetwood Town striker Jamie Vardy.

The 25-year-old scored 34 goals to put the Cod Army into the Football League for the first time, as they won the Conference National title. City made a £1 million bid for Vardy in January but that was rejected.

"Jamie Vardy is a Fleetwood player and will remain that way until the summer," Cod Army manager Micky Mellon told BBC Radio Lancashire in the winter, "There is absolutely no doubt about that. He was brought here to do a job for the football club and he'll finish that job off."

It seems, however, that Fleetwood would be lucky to keep hold of the in-demand forward and the Foxes are prime candidates to sign the striker.

Meanwhile, the Leicester Mercury has reported that Nigel Pearson has submitted a bid for defender James Chester, who he managed during his year in charge at Hull City. The Foxes' approach has already been rebuffed by the Tigers but it is thought that, with the defender as Pearson's prime target, Leicester will be in a position to make a further offer for the 23-year-old.

Bids have also been made for Manchester United's Ezekiel Fryers and Richie du Lait, whilst Hull have also been approached over midfielder Robert Koren in a busy start to the summer at the King Power Stadium.