Eriksson releases statement as O'Neill speculation grows

The fall-out from Sven Goran Eriksson's departure as Leicester City manager continues as the shocking news settles and Foxes' fans come to terms with the news.

"It was always my aim to lead the club into the Premier League," said Eriksson, "I am very sorry that I won't be able to do that," he added, "I have always thought, and still believe now, that the club will be promoted this season. The current squad is capable and ready to achieve promotion, but football is a results industry and unfortunately we couldn't quite get things right enough of the time."

Eriksson released his statement through the League Managers' Association, the body who condemned Leicester City Football Club for their rashness after the sacking of Paulo Sousa a year ago.

"To the players; old, new, everyone in the squad, I would like to say thank you. You are a talented group and I am hopeful that you will achieve success very soon. To the staff at the club; both at the stadium and the training ground - you treated me like a king and I shall miss working with you all. Last but not least, to the fans; I want to say a huge thank you for your support. You are fantastic people and I will never forget the way you welcomed me in to your club. I am just sorry that I won't be on the bench the day you reach the Premier League."

Eriksson finished his statement with an emotional message: "Being the manager of Leicester City was an absolute pleasure and I wish everyone connected with the club the best of luck. Leicester City is a great club and I am certain that with the current owners in charge the club will go from strength to strength."

Martin O'Neill is favourite to replace the Swede in the King Power Stadium hot-seat as he ruled-out the possibility of becoming the next manager of Northern Ireland. Nigel Worthington quit after a 3-0 defeat to Italy a fortnight ago and O'Neill would have been a popular choice - but the ex-Aston Villa boss played-down any speculation. He said that he wants another chance in the Premier League and wishes to return to club management.

And, with Eriksson relieved of his post, the path is clear for O'Neill to make an emotional return to the East Midlands. The Belfast Telegraph reports that O'Neill could be tempted to return to the club at which he made his name - the 59-year-old took Leicester to Wembley four times, winning two league cups and a play off trophy and led the Foxes to eighth place in the Premier League in 2000, their highest league finish since 1976. After being tempted by Celtic, O'Neill moved north of the border and won three titles in four seasons with the Bhoys.

O'Neill's stock remains high despite his leaving Aston Villa under a cloud over a year ago: he fell out with Villains' owner Randy Learner over transfer funding. Indeed, O'Neill remains as a common name mentioned with many vacant Premier League managerial positions, not least as a potential successor to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

Whether he could be tempted to move back to Leicester - and whether or not that would be a shrewd move for as canny a man as O'Neill - remains, for now, to be seen.

O'Neill favourite with fans and bookies

Martin O'Neill has been installed as an early favourite to replace Sven Goran Eriksson as Leicester City manager after the Swede was sacked last night.

Beloved: Martin O'Neill is a legend at Leicester, where he won promotion and
established the Foxes in the top-ten in the Premier League

The shock decision leaves the Foxes in 13th in the nPower Championship and without a manager as they head into arguably their biggest game of the season when they visit West Ham United on Saturday.

Academy director Jon Rudkin will take charge alongside the last remaining first team coach, goalkeeping coach Mike Stowell, will select the team to face the Hammers but speculation has already turned to who will replace Eriksson on a permanent basis - despite a statement on the club's website confirming that no-one is yet in place to succeed the ex-England boss.

"The process of recruiting a new permanent Manager will begin in the coming days," reads a statement on the club's official website, "There will be no further comments from the Club or any comment on the recruitment process until an appointment is made."

O'Neill, the most successful Leicester manager in recent times, is odds-on favourite at 11/10 to take his former post. The Northern Irishman, who won two league cups in six years at Filbert Street before departing for success with Celtic and a stint at Aston Villa, is also a firm favourite with the fans, with one poll indicating that he is favoured by 55%.

Billy Davies and Mark Hughes are also popular option with fans but are installed by Sky Bet at 8/1 and 9/2 respectively.

The new-found reputation of Leicester City as a big-spending club, along with the well-known ambition of their Thai owners, sees the Foxes linked with big name managers like never before. The likes of Slavan Bilic (20/1), Carlo Ancelotti (25/1) and Marcelo Lippi (25/1) are big names for a club whose recent managers have included the likes of Martin Allen and Rob Kelly.

Certainly names such as Ancelotti or Lippi bring a similar respect and awe that Eriksson supposedly offered, but O'Neill, Davies or Huddersfield's Lee Clark (9/2) have a certain credibility within the Football League. With fickle Foxes' fans seeking nothing short of promotion in a third frustrating season back in the second tier, the steady hand of O'Neill could be just the ticket - if he would accept the job.

All odds from Sky Bet. Odds correct at time of publication.

Eriksson Sacked

Sacked: Sven Goran Eriksson

Sven Goran Eriksson has been sacked as Leicester City manager.

Eriksson was widely criticised by Foxes' fans after a disappointing and inconsistent start to the season and, with his big-money summer signings failing to consistently dazzle on the pitch, the club's Thai owners have run short of patience with the Swede.

An audibly shocked and upset Eriksson could say nothing as he drove away from the Foxes' Belvoir Drive ground, a simple "Hello" being his only message to the fans, "I can say nothing at this time."

He leaves with the club just twelfth in the Championship table but within a win of fourth place. Leicester had the opportunity to go second with a win over Millwall at the King Power Stadium on Saturday but a dismal 0-3 reverse ensued amid fans calling for Eriksson's head.

Good wins against Derby County and Brighton & Hove Albion have been forgotten as poor losses to Watford and Bristol City have marred the Foxes' start to a campaign where they were widely hailed as being favourites to win the league this year. A mixture of big name signings, with the exception of top performers Kasper Schmeichel and David Nugent, have broadly disappointed with the likes of Matt Mills and Jermaine Beckford failing to shine in royal blue.

Early rumour links Gary Megson or Billy Davies with the vacant role.

Conclusions from Millwall

Leicester City	0-3	Millwall
	(HT 0-2)
		Henderson pen 36, 45+2, 68

King Power Stadium, attendance: 21,931
BBC Match Report

Danns storm-out rumours false

Danns: Featured heavily in pre-season

Leicester City midfielder Neil Danns has reportedly stormed-out of the King Power Stadium after Sven Goran Eriksson left him out of his match day squad for this afternoon's Football League Championship encounter with Millwall.

But 28-year-old Danns, active on social media, tweeted his thoughts having been prompted by Foxes' fans and remarked, "I didn't storm off".

Ending his tweet with a hashtag "#stupidrumours", Danns wrote, "I've gone to collect [my] family to watch the game."

Belated Conclusions from St Andrew's and Watford

Leicester City	2-0	Watford
	(HT 2-0)
Nugent 19 Beckford 36

King Power Stadium, attendance: 20,304
BBC Match Report

Seattle Sounders honour career of Keller

USA: Keller appearing for Foxes in 1997

Seattle Sounders will honour the career of former Leicester City goalkeeper Kasey Keller as he makes his final league appearance in the MLS tonight.

The American keeper - who played for the Foxes under Martin O'Neill between 1996-1999 - will be greeted by a record crowd at the Sounders' CenturyLink Field ground as they face San Jose Earthquakes tonight. Filling the entire NFL stadium for a soccer match is unheard of and stands as testament to a legend of American soccer.

“I look at the calendar and I see that I’m going to be 42 next month," reflected Keller, "At some stage, it’s all going to come to an end very rapidly. And I just don’t want that to happen in the middle of a season. I just don’t want to not be able to train, not be able to play, not be able to perform at the level that I’m used to, that you’re used to, that the club, the fans, that everybody is used to, and be stumbling around out there because of my name and that kind of stuff. I think it just feels like it’s the right time: I want to go out on my terms."

Keller became the first American to play in England when he joined Millwall at the tender age of 22 and, after accruing over 200 appearances for the Lions he became the first Yank to play in the Premier League when he joined Leicester for £900,000.

During his four years at Filbert Street Keller was in goal as Martin O'Neill's side won the Coca-Cola Cup in 1997 and he appeared at Wembley again when the Foxes met Tottenham Hotspur in the same event two years later. In total, Keller made just short of the magical hundred appearances for Leicester City and moved to Spain for two seasons before returning to England for a successful spell with Spurs. A loan stint at Southampton and a foray into Germany followed. He made his final appearances in England for Fulham before joining Sounders in 2009.

Tonight's league closer will not be Keller's last game for the Sounders, as he hopes to lead the team into the MLS Cup Final and his side will host a CONCACAF Champions League fixture next week. However it will stand as the final regular season game in a long and successful career spanning both sides of the continent.

Edited 16/10/2011 11:05 - It was erroneously stated that Kasey Keller joined Seattle Sounders in 1999. The goalkeeper in fact joined the club in 2009 and this has been amended (via @jglover12)

Rudkin praises "first class facilities"

Leicester City academy manager John Rudkin is amongst many within the club who have praised the recently re-opened LCFC Training Facility at Belvoir Drive.

Refurb: Sven Goran Eriksson's office is amongst the rooms renovated at the Foxes' training ground

Amongst the improvements to pitches - including the construction of a state-of-the-art synthetic pitch - every room at the facility has been enhanced with new technology to improve the already well-respected sports science and medical departments. A new lounge for youth team members and their parents has been constructed alongside improvements to the restaurant and changing rooms.

"The whole place has had a major revamp and it will be beneficial right across the club. These are first class facilities and it is terrific when young players see not only the facilities but the standard of delivery and after-care provided by the football club. It is an environment that you would want you children involved in."

Rudkin was quick to praise the investment in the club made by Thai owners Vichai and Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn, the King Power owners showing their commitment through major investment in the playing squad alongside improvements at the King Power Stadium and now Belvoir Drive.

"The investment has been magnificent since they arrived at the football club," Rudkin continued, "They have a real vision for the long term and this is part of it. For us as a football club and academy, we thank them greatly, and also as a city. What we are seeing at a senior level with the investment is very exciting for everyone."

Football director Andrew Neville, whilst curt on the exact cost of the training facility's refurbishment, praised the work done at the training ground and the new "Premier League facilities" on offer.

"We felt left behind a little bit over the last few years. We have certainly felt the facility had become a bit tired so we put a proposal to the owners to improve the facility and they have bought into it," he said in an interview with the Leicester Mercury, "They have invested significantly here in terms of the pitches, the artificial pitch, the offices and medical facilities here, and all the fitness facilities."

For the time being the improvements to Belvoir Drive will quell rumours that spoke of a move away from the Aylestone site to a greenfield location and Neville hopes that with first-class facilities will come top flight football.

"This is a massive improvement and we feel we are up to a level now where, while we are probably not on the same level as the top Premier League clubs, we are at a Premier League level we want to be at and maintain."

Eriksson spoilt for choice by fully-fit Foxes

Sven Goran Eriksson will be spoilt for choice ahead of Sunday's Championship game against Birmingham City at St Andrews (KO 13:00, live on BBC One) with five first team regulars set to challenge for a highly-coveted starting role.

Paul Gallagher remains the only doubt - he has been out for four weeks following an ankle injury picked-up in the 1-1 draw against Barnsley - with the Scot set to return to full training only at the end of this week.

However, Richie Wellens (groin) and Michael Johnson (shoulder) both trained with the rest of the Leicester City first team today and are set to challenge for a starting berth in a highly competitive midfield. Andy King, sidelined over the weekend with a back complaint, did not appear for Wales but will be in contention for the Foxes, as will Jermaine Beckford who has shrugged-off a groin injury. Sven Goran Eriksson is confident that at least four of the five injured players will be competing to return to action with the Foxes on Sunday.

"They are all getting better and Wellens and Johnson have joined in full training," said the Leicester boss, "Then we have Beckford, Gallagher and King. I am pretty sure they might be available, all of them, for Birmingham. I hope they can train today or Thursday. If that is the case, they could be available. Gallagher has been out for a while so he is doubtful, but the other two have a good chance. King has a back problem, but it is not serious. The problem is you can't really move with a back injury, but he is improving."

Eriksson is keen to see his side build on recent successes in the league and, having gone four league games without conceding with his team in good form, altering his starting line up could be seen as a controversial move.

"It would be good to have them all back and have the problem of who to pick," added the Swede, "It's good news for us and will be some headache to have."

St Ledger enjoying Irish life despite Leicester "nightmare"

Sean St Ledger has spoken of his "nightmare" time since joining Leicester City ahead of tonight's European Championship qualification fixture between Armenia and the Republic of Ireland.

The Irish international, buoyed by the faith shown in him by Republic coach Giovanni Trapattoni, admitted to Irish newspaper the Herald how he yearns to appear for his club but must be content with sitting on the sidelines for the time being.

"I haven't even made the bench for the last few games with the club and that's frustrating. It's not down to injury, it's purely tactical," said the defender, "It's hard to get angry with [Sven Goran Eriksson] as he's such a nice man and a good person, he's brilliant to work under. I want to be successful at Leicester. It's a massive club with great potential so I have to keep working as hard as I can to stay in there."

St Ledger earned his 21st cap as the Republic beat Armenia 2-1 this evening but is becoming increasingly frustrated at club level. He believes that to succeed internationally, he must be making regular appearances for the Foxes.

"Maybe I need to go on loan to get some football for the time being. If we do get to the play-offs I need to be playing if I am to stay in the team and if I'm going to be match fit," continued St Ledger, "I feel fine and sharp but it's difficult and personally frustrating for me to be not playing for my club... It's a bit of a nightmare at the moment, to be honest. I want to play but to keep my place with the Ireland team I need to be playing at club level regularly and I haven't been doing that."

With consecutive clean sheets racking-up, Eriksson is unlikely to disrupt a back line that have hit form in recent weeks, with Matt Mills and Sol Bamba forging a formidable centre back partnership that have seen the Foxes now go four league games without conceding.

"It's not easy when you can't even make the bench," St Ledger went on, "You only have five subs on the bench in the Championship and our right back can play centre half so they have other options. I just have to deal with it, but it's been a very frustrating period... I have spoken to the manager about it and he said he'll speak to me again after the international break. We have only three centre halves at the club and if one of them gets injured then I am back in the team, but it's not easy."

"We'll see" on Beckham - Eriksson

Royal Blue: How Beckham might look for Foxes

Sven Goran Eriksson has once again stated his firm intention to lure David Beckham to the King Power Stadium - and insists that the former England captain will not refuse his offer.

Beckham - made permanent skipper of the England team during Eriksson's spell as head coach - will be a free agent after the expiry of his current deal with LA Galaxy at the end of the season. The Swede hopes that the 36-year-old midfielder will rejoin him as a player/coach.

"We will give him a whistle and he can go out [on the training pitch] straight away," said Eriksson, "I have already had that discussion with him. I spoke to him about Leicester."

The signing of Beckham would be a major coup for Championship side Leicester who have not made such a high-profile signing since the capture of Roberto Mancini in 2001, the Manchester City manager falling in love with the English game after just four appearances in Foxes' royal blue. Whilst Beckham is without a club for next year - and keen to return to England in a bid to represent his country in the 2012 Olympic football tournament - the club's Thai owners remain interested in the possibility of securing Beckham.

With the Foxes without a first-team coach following the departure of Dietmar Hamann to Stockport County in July - and King Power seeking a mega star to launch their duty-free brand in the west - big-spending Leicester could be a perfect move for Beckham if he wishes to continue in football beyond his LA Galaxy contract.

"The big thing is what he wants to do when his contract finishes in LA," added Eriksson, "Will he want to go on playing? Beckham, he will never say no to me - he says, 'Sven, we'll see, we'll see'."

Injuries "not serious": Foxes trio set for Brum return

Sven Goran Eriksson has confirmed that injuries to Jermaine Beckford (groin), Richie Wellens (groin) and Michael Johnson (shoulder) are not serious and all three are expected to be in contention when the Foxes face Birmingham City a week on Sunday.

"They have had scans," said the Leicester manager, "But the injuries are not too serious and they will have the international break to help them, so they should be back for the next game."

The televised match, live on BBC One at 13:00, will present an interesting challenge for Eriksson as he looks to include the three high-profile players in his match day squad without disrupting the side which played so well and hit Derby County for four last weekend.

Meanwhile, Eriksson has confirmed that midfielder Matt Oakley still has a role to play at the King Power Stadium, despite his departure on loan to League One Exeter City last week.

"I am sure Matt Oakley would go into the team tomorrow, as a right-back or midfielder, and do a good job," said Eriksson, "He is one of our fittest players. If you did a running test now he would win it.

"He needs to play football. It is not good for him to be training every day and not even sitting on the bench. It will be very good for him now."

Full-back Tom Kennedy has also left the club on loan as he joins Peterborough United. Kennedy did not feature in Posh's 2-1 defeat to Doncaster Rovers, whilst Oakley played 90 minutes in the Grecians' 2-0 triumph over Oldham Athletic.

Joyous Conclusions from Derby County

Leicester City	4-0	Derby County
	(HT 2-0)
Nugent 21 Vassell 44 Schlupp 88 Dyer 90+1

King Power Stadium, attendance: 22,496
BBC Match Report

Oakley set for Exeter loan deal

Oakley: Led the Foxes to the 2008-09 League One title

Leicester City midfielder Matt Oakley is set for a loan move to League One outfit Exeter City.

The former Foxes' captain has seen his central midfield berth swamped with new talent since the arrival of Sven Goran Eriksson a year ago and, despite a run of form that saw him regain a position in the first team squad towards the end of last season, it now looks increasingly likely that his spell at the King Power Stadium is coming to a close.

Oakley, 34, has so far not made an appearance this term and, along with fellow ex-Derby County man Steve Howard, looks set for a temporary exit from the King Power Stadium.

Conclusions from the Riverside Stadium

Middlesbrough	0-0	Leicester City
	(HT 0-0)

Riverside Stadium, attendance: 16,883
BBC Match Report

Conclusions from the Cardiff City Stadium

Cardiff City	0-0	Leicester City
	(HT 0-0)

Cardiff City Stadium, attendance: 21,154
BBC Match Report

League Cup Conclusions from the Cardiff City Stadium

Cardiff City	2-2 AET	Leicester City
	(HT 1-1)
Cowie 33 Gestede 81		Howard 40 Dyer 66

Cardiff City win 7-6 on penalties

Cardiff City Stadium, attendance: 8,697
BBC Match Report

Bamba earns contract extension

Sol Bamba has agreed an extension to his contract with Leicester City that will see the defender remain at the King Power Stadium until June 2014.

There had been speculation over the summer linking the powerful centre half with a move to the Premier League but that never materialised and the Ivorian is delighted to be staying in the East Midlands.

Manager Sven Goran Eriksson, meanwhile, is clear of the importance of having players such as Bamba tied-down to long term deals with the club.

"He is an important player for us and he will continue to be important in to the future," said the Swede, "We believe that his current form this season has shown that he is getting better and better as a player. Sol is very strong and he is popular with everyone, so this is great for the Club."

The Foxes have also moved to sign former Luton Town youngster Michael Cain for a reported five-figure sum. Cain refused to sign on a professional basis with the Hatters as they failed to reach the Football League and is now hoping to reach the very top levels of English football at Filbert Way. 

Conclusions from Brighton & Hove Albion

Leicester City	1-0	Brighton & Hove Albion
	(HT 0-0)
Abe 46

King Power Stadium, attendance: 24,128
BBC Match Report

Foxes hit by improper conduct charge

Leicester City have been issued with a charge of failing to control their players following a brief fracas in the second half of Saturday's game against Barnsley.

The Football Association released a brief statement on their website detailing that both clubs will face disciplinary action if found guilty.

"Barnsley and Leicester City have been charged by The FA with failing to control their players during Saturday’s [10 September] fixture at Barnsley. Both clubs have until 4pm on 19 September 2011 to respond to the charge."

The charge - officially defined under FA rule E20 as "failure to ensure players conduct themselves in an orderly fashion and/or refrain from provocative behaviour" - appears a harsh one but is likely to incur a financial fine for both clubs.

In other news, the Foxes' game against Crystal Palace has been put back by a day in lieu of a fixture clash with the Leicester Tigers rugby team. The Foxes will now play the Eagles one day later than planned, at 3:00pm on Sunday, 20th November, allowing the egg-chasers to appear on television in their European cup game against Ulster at Welford Road on Saturday.

Conclusions from Oakwell

Barnsley	1-1	Leicester City
	(HT 1-0)
Butterfield 38		King 46

Oakwell, attendance: 10,862
BBC Match Report

Neville left "shattered" by transfer window

Andrew Neville has described this summer's transfer window as the most stressful he has ever experienced.

The Foxes' football director was present at the closing stages of negotiations for each of Leicester City's twelve signings, including the last-ditch effort to sign Jermaine Beckford from Everton. That deal, Neville revealed in an interview with the Leicester Mercury, was completed with just seconds to spare before the eleven o'clock deadline on August 31st.

"It was getting to the stage when it was a little bit fraught. The hours were ticking by and by the latter part of the afternoon we had actually agreed everything, by around about 7.30pm or 8pm. But with three hours to go, Jermaine was still in Liverpool.

"I think Jermaine actually arrived between 10pm and 10.30pm and there were a whole lot of documents to sign," said Neville, "He still had to reach an agreement with Everton over something, we had some paperwork to do with Everton, and Martyn Waghorn was waiting to go to Hull because we had agreed a loan deal for him, but what we couldn't do was sign those documents just in case there was a last minute hitch with Jermaine.

"We actually started to register Jermaine at 10.59pm and just before 11pm I sent the papers to the league and the FA for the Waghorn deal. Hull were doing a deal on the back of that, so Jay Simpson could join Millwall if they got Waghorn in."

Neville added that he feels very satisfied with progress at the club over the summer, with big-money signings such as Beckford and Matt Mills signalling a new future at the King Power Stadium.

Nonetheless pressure is mounting on Sven Goran Eriksson, with one newspaper claiming last week that the Foxes' manager has just five games to save his job. Despite that being a little premature, Leicester face an away trip to Barnsley tomorrow and Tykes' boss Keith Hill insists that the pressure is on Eriksson and his expensively-assembled team.

"The pressure is off us, it's all on Leicester," said Hill, "There's pressure on them to perform because they're expected to come here and turn us over, but we'll be giving it everything to ensure that doesn't happen."

The Oakwell outfit spent just £1 million, Hill aiming to keep Barnsley afloat in the Championship on less than ten per cent of the budget allocated to Eriksson this summer.

The Foxes will be expecting to see 2,300 fans travel to Oakwell despite a protest from some quarters at Barnsley's hike in admission prices that have seen a £13 increase since last season.

Logan requires surgery after clash

Long-serving: Logan played-on despite facial injuries

On-loan Foxes goalkeeper Conrad Logan will undergo surgery after he received substantial facial injuries whilst playing for Rotherham United against Swindon on Saturday.

The Irish keeper, the longest-serving on the books at the King Power Stadium, will undergo rhinoplasty and dental work for his injuries, sustained after a clash in the first minute involving Swindon duo Michael Raynes and Lukas Magera. Logan completed the full ninety minutes of the fixture but now faces a wait on the sideline following his surgery.

"He'll have his nose reset and some work done on his teeth," said Millers' boss Andy Scott, "Half were missing or in the wrong place."

Logan is on loan at Rotherham in a six-month deal. He has enjoyed spells at Bristol Rovers, Stockport County, Luton Town and Boston United since agreeing professional terms with the Foxes in 2001. The 25-year-old has made 23 appearances for Leicester City's senior side.

Eriksson: "I'm happy with my squad"

Sven Goran Eriksson has said he is happy with his business in this summer's transfer market and is to settle on the squad he has assembled.

Last season Eriksson was highly active in the loan market - he chose not to purchase in the January transfer window where fees are often inflated - but he is reluctant to introduce any new players now that he has assembled a squad of his choosing.

With David Nugent sidelined for up to five weeks with a torn hamstring, the Swede might have been tempted to bring in one final signing for a temporary spell at the King Power Stadium. However Eriksson rubbished those claims.

"I don't think we are going to do anything more," insisted the Foxes manager, "If something very, very good appears then maybe, but at this moment we are not looking at anything and I am very happy with my squad."

He also offered words of encouragement to Martyn Waghorn, who left Leicester yesterday to rejoin former manager Nigel Pearson at Hull City in a six-month loan deal.

"He wanted to play more football than he has done lately and we want him to play because we believe he is a good striker," said Eriksson, "Unfortunately, he has played too little here. But he is young and a big talent, and it will be good for him to be playing at Hull."

Waghorn capped the news of his loan move by scoring on his debut for England's under-21s in their 6-0 victory over Azerbaijan last night.

Reflections on the 2011 summer transfer window

Sven Goran Eriksson will lead his team out against Barnsley with the most expensively-assembled Leicester City team of all time. The Swede, armed with cash from the King Power owners of the football club, was given a near-unlimited budget and has spent widely since making his first signing, snatching the promising Lee Peltier on a three-year deal in the middle of June.

But what of Eriksson's spending tactics? Has he got value for money? The Foxes' manager has, after all, spent an unprecedented amount for a Championship club, not including huge wages (rumours of some £25,000 per week being offered to the likes of Matt Mills are not completely unfounded).

Cream of the crop: Leicester City's twelve new signings of the summer of 2011

Beckford is a blue

Striker: Beckford found the net 72 times for Leeds

Leicester City have completed the signing of Everton striker Jermaine Beckford for a fee believed to be in excess of £4 million.

Beckford, 27, becomes the thirteenth player to join Sven Goran Eriksson's Foxes renaissance and will offer much-needed firepower at the King Power Stadium. Despite spending more than any other manager in the club's history, Eriksson's team have made an indifferent start to the season and lie tenth in the Championship after five games.

Beckford broke into league football at Leeds United after he scored an impressive 54 goals in 82 games for non-league Wealdstone. Taking-in loan spells at Carlisle United and Scunthorpe United, he went on to make over 120 appearances for the Peacocks, scoring 72 times. Leeds allowed Beckford to cancel his contract a year early to allow him to join Everton, but his stint in the Premier League yielded just 8 goals in 33 appearances despite impressive performances.

Now, Beckford returns to the Football League and Leicester will hope he can find the net as they push on for promotion.

The signing of Beckford is expected to pave the way for Martyn Waghorn's exit to Hull City on loan, whilst it is not yet certain how any late improved bid for Rangers' Nikica Jelovic will be affected.

N'Guessan ends Foxes stay

Forward: Dany scored three goals for Leicester

Dany N'Guessan has left Leicester City to join Millwall for an undisclosed fee. The forward has been on loan with the Lions since the start of the season and has impressed Kenny Jackett enough to earn himself a three-year deal at the Den.

After joining the club from Lincoln City in 2009, to much acclaim, he had a moderately successful first season but failed to make his mark on the first team. N'Guessan nonetheless made 41 appearances in royal blue and netted three important goals for the Foxes.

The 24-year-old Frenchman enjoyed spells on loan at Scunthorpe United and Southampton last term and began a six month loan at the Den last month.

Meanwhile, first year professional Shane Bryne has secured a one month loan at Bury, where he will hope to secure some first team league football. 

Everton agree fee for Beckford

Leicester City and Everton have agreed a fee for striker Jermaine Beckford, with the Toffees' forward now negotiating personal terms on the move to the King Power Stadium.

Having had an offer in the region of £2 million declined by David Moyes' Everton a fortnight ago, Sven Goran Eriksson has upped his offer to somewhere within the region of £4 million as he attempts to lure an elusive goalscorer to his revolution in the East Midlands.

Meanwhile, despite rumours to the contrary Jimmy Kebe has not been the subject of a bid from the Foxes, who are looking to increase their £6.5 million offer for Rangers' Nikica Jelovic.

To keep abreast of all the Foxes' transfer deadline day moves, keep checking Of Fosse and Foxes with our Deadline Day News feed updated all the way through until the transfer window closes at 11pm tonight.

Edited 19:36: Jimmy Kebe was not having a medical and no bid was accepted by Reading for the winger.

Foxes keeping close eye on Rangers duo

Jelavic: Scored to help Rangers lift the Scottish League Cup last term

Leicester City are keeping a watchful eye over Rangers' pair Nikica Jelovic and Steven Davis. Jelovic has already been the subject of a £6.5 million bid from Sven Goran Eriksson's Foxes.

Rangers confirmed that they rejected the bid from Leicester in a statement yesterday, with the Foxes clearly impressed by the Croatian striker's credentials. The target man hit eighteen goals to help Ally McCoist's Gers to the Scottish Premier League title last season. Midfielder Davis, meanwhile, has not been subject to a bid but has been observed closely by the Foxes' scouts for weeks.

Eriksson is seeking a star striker to propel his team into the Premier League. He released Leon Crncic earlier today - the Slovenian youth international never making a senior appearance after signing with Paulo Sousa last summer - whilst Martyn Waghorn is widely tipped to move to Hull City on loan to rejoin former manager Nigel Pearson by the end of the week.

Waghorn set for Hull loan as Foxes look to Johnson

Exit: Waghorn's stock has fallen at Leicester 

Martyn Waghorn's exit from the King Power Stadium is set to be completed in the next few days as he will move to Hull City on a six-month loan deal.

Originally reported by the Daily Mail yesterday, sources close to the club have confirmed that Waghorn, who moved permanently to the King Power Stadium for £3 million a year ago, will rejoin his former manager Nigel Pearson at the KC Stadium this week. Leicester City boss Sven Goran Eriksson confirmed after the Foxes' win over Southampton on Saturday that Waghorn was being allowed to speak to other clubs as he does not feature in the Swede's plans.

Meanwhile, Eriksson's hunt for an alternative striker continues with the news that a £4 million bid for Fulham's Andy Johnson has been accepted by the London club. The former England striker has netted three times in Europe this season as the Cottagers qualified for the group stage of the Europa League and has been linked heavily linked with a move to the Championship in the press.

News of a possible move for Everton's Yakubu have resurfaced, whilst Manchester United's Federico Macheda has also been linked with a potential deal at the King Power Stadium. Certainly, another move ofr Yakubu after his successful spell in the East Midlands towards the end of last season would be a popular move amongst the Foxes' faithful.

There are just two days remaining in the summer transfer window, but both Eriksson and Football Director Andrew Neville have been interviewed in the past week and confirmed that the signing of a striker is 'close'.

Conclusions from Southampton

Leicester City	3-2	Southampton
	(HT 3-1)
Vassell 3 Wellens 22 Lambert OG 45+3		Harding 28 Connelly 53

King Power Stadium, attendance: 23,808
BBC Match Report

League Cup Conclusions from Gigg Lane

Bury	2-4	Leicester City
	(HT 1-1)
M Jones 40 Lowe 53		Schlupp 21 Gallagher 70 Dyer 77 Danns 90+3

Gigg Lane, attendance: 3,379
BBC Match Report

Neville remains keen on striker

Leicester City Football Club director Andrew Neville has reassured the club's fans that a striker is still on the radar as the transfer windows enters its final week.

The Foxes have had bids for Nicky Maynard, Shane Long and Jermain Beckford turned-down by their respective clubs, whilst they missed-out on Craig-Mackail Smith who opted instead to join Brighton and Hove Albion. Neville, however, insisted during BBC Radio Leicester's weekly phone-in that the signing of a forward remains a priority.

"We were hopeful a couple of days ago. Hopefully by Saturday we'll have somebody. It's not the answer people want but we're looking," Neville said, "It can be something that can happen very, very quickly or it can be something that's long-winded."

The Foxes have had a mixed start to the season, claiming just four points from their opening four games after poor performances at home to Reading and Bristol City - transfer target Maynard grabbing a brace for the Robins in that fixture.

They will be hoping to extend their cup run, however, after a solid second half saw youngster Jeff Schlupp grab a hat-trick en-route to a victory against Rotherham that rewards Leicester with a trip to Bury's Gigg Lane this evening.

Conclusions from Reading, Bristol and Forest

Nottingham Forest	2-2	Leicester City
	(HT 0-2)
McGugan 79 (pen) Boateng 90+4		Nugent 18 Fernandes 21

City Ground, attendance: 24,426
BBC Match Report

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.

League Cup Conclusions from the Don Valley Stadium

Rotherham United	1-4	Leicester City
	(HT 1-1)
Mills (OG) 13		Gallagher 36 Schlupp 53, 63, 71

Don Valley Stadium, attendance: 3,717
BBC Match Report

Conclusions from the Ricoh Arena

Coventry City	0-1	Leicester City
	(HT 0-0)
		Peltier 53

Ricoh Arena, attendance: 21,102
BBC Match Report

Looking ahead to the start of a new season

Leicester City will begin their pursuit of the Championship title and promotion to the Premier League when they visit Coventry City's Ricoh Arena on Saturday lunchtime.

With the Sky Blues making just two signings (goalkeeper Joe Murphy on a free transfer from Scunthorpe and Northampton Town's Chris Dunn), Foxes fans will be hoping that Sven Goran Eriksson's new star-studded line up will get off to a flying start.

But Leicester have never won at the Ricoh Arena and with the last three meetings between the two sides finishing in a draw, it seems that duck may be harder to break than the two clubs' differing summer fortunes may tell. That said, Coventry have not replaced two key men from last season, Marlon King and Aron Gunnarson both leaving and Andy Thorn thwarted in his attempts to strengthen a very much weakened team.

Despite a win over Kettering Town the week before the Poppies held Leicester to a 1-1 draw, Coventry's pre-season was marred by a 3-0 defeat to newly promoted Norwich City, the only friendly the Sky Blues played against a team not in a lower division.

Contrast that to a Leicester City pre-season that saw narrow defeats to Spanish giants Valencia and Real Madrid, plus a draw to Turkish Champions' League outfit Bursaspor. On paper the Foxes' results may not appear to be as strong, but against better opposition Eriksson's team could not be better prepared.

This is a season in which Foxes fans are expecting the very best of their team, with a heavy weight of expectation placed upon the shoulders particularly of the twelve new men to wear royal blue this term. There is a buzz of excitement around the King Power Stadium, a buzz of expectation, of hope and of belief that this could be Leicester City's year.

First, though, they face a test away from home, against a team in very differing fortunes to their own. And, this being football, that could be the toughest test of all.

Foxes' Colours

Kick Off:

Saturday, 6th August 2011 (12:30pm)

Coverage:

Full commentary on BBC Radio Leicester, BBC Radio 5 Live and Foxes Player with updates on Sky Sports News and highlights on The Football League Show, BBC One.

Odds:

Coventry City 13/5, Leicester City 1/1, Draw 5/2
(Source: Bet365.com, correct at time of publication)

Fernandes loan agreed

Loanee: Fernandes played for Man City

Leicester City have agreed terms with French outfit St Etienne to take former Manchester City midfielder Gelson Fernandes on loan for the season.

The 24-year-old Swiss international adds a spark of World Cup talent to Sven Goran Eriksson's already strong midfield squad and he could feature against Coventry City on Saturday, subject to FA approval and international clearances.

Eriksson's tenth signing played under the Swede at Eastlands, moving to the north west in a £4.2 million deal from Swiss side Sion in 2007. After making the switch to St Etienne, Fernandes spent last season loaned out to Italian club Chievo. He added to his 33 Swiss caps when he appeared in a Euro 2012 qualification match in March, his international highlight so far being his winner against eventual winners Spain in the group stages of last summer's World Cup in South Africa.

Foxes 8th cheapest in league

Research carried-out by BBC Sport has revealed how much it costs a football fan to attend each game and placed Leicester City as the eighth cheapest club in the Championship.

The investigation into each of the 104 clubs in league football in England and Scotland examined the price of the cheapest adult match ticket, programme, pie and cup of tea to establish a league table to ascertain the cheapest day out for each club.

Liverpool came out as the most expensive, with the combined price coming to £46.95. The cheapest, meanwhile, was Rochdale where fans can watch their team with all the trimmings for as little as £16.20 per game.

In the Championship, the best value comes from Watford, whose supporters pay just £1.10 more than Rochdale fans and as little as £1.10 for a cuppa. This contrasts starkly with West Ham United, who charge a huge £47.00 for their most expensive tickets - the cheapest day out at Upton Park is in excess of forty pounds, the only club to reach this milestone.

Leicester see-off Nottingham Forest by being 10p cheaper on a cup of tea and are a full £2.20 per game cheaper than Coventry City. Derby County, meanwhile, are amongst the most expensive clubs to support in the Championship, with their cheapest day out coming-in at £32.70.

The BBC report is available for each league, in full, here. The full Championship table is copied below.

Edited 02/08/11 16:25 - This post previously inferred that Leicester City was the eighth most expensive club in the Championship. Two amendments have been made in order to correct this error.

Heskey will not be a Foxes player

Sven Goran Eriksson has confirmed that Emile Heskey will not become a Leicester City player in the foreseeable future.

Speaking candidly on BBC Radio Leicester, the Leicester City manager revealed that he had indeed spoken to the ex-England forward, who of course made his name during his early career at Filbert Street, but Heskey had turned-down the opportunity to sign for his former club, "at least for this season".

Meanwhile, Eriksson confirmed that Shane Long is on his shortlist of strikers as he bids to sign a twelfth player this summer. He also reiterated that he has contacted North Korean international Chong Tae-Se, the striker linked with a move to the King Power Stadium earlier in the summer.

Roaring the Foxes to victory: Reflections on pre-season

Despite the fact that Leicester City have created a new bar at which to aim in terms of Championship signings, Los Blancos remain the richest and most powerful football club on Earth, on a par with those at the very top of world football. The Foxes, remember, are still a second-tier outfit.

Yet the might of Real Madrid failed to embarrass Sven Goran Eriksson’s Foxes: that will be something the Swede should find cheering.

This friendly fixture highlighted just how far the football club has come since they won just one of their first nine games last term. Gaining just five points in the first two months of the season, Leicester sat bottom of the league and Paulo Sousa was sacked to make way for Eriksson and what has become a Thai revolution.

Canny loan signings by Eriksson saw him build a team capable of reaching the play-offs, only to miss-out following a poor run of form towards the end of the season. Loan signings returning to their parent clubs left Eriksson with a weak squad and he has done fantastically well, working with Chairman Vichai and Vice-Chairman Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn to tempt Premier League stars to the East Midlands.

Galacticos beat Foxes in front of record crowd

If any pre-season friendly was to be the subject of excessive hype, it would be the visit of Jose Mourinho's Galacticos to the King Power Stadium.

As it was, that build-up failed to disappoint, with a record crowd of 32,188 treated to a 'Fan Village' before kick-off, featuring real-life table football, live music and a Q&A with city legends past.

Crowd: A record 31,188 saw the Foxes take on Madrid

Unfortunately a game that promised so much failed to deliver on that expectation early on, failing to come alive until nearly twenty minutes was gone, a one-two with Sami Khedira falling for Karim Benzema, the French international firing just wide of Kasper Schmeichel's post. The Danish keeper was forced to show his best minutes later when he stifled a chance from Fabio Coentrao, saving superbly at the feet of the Portuguese international.

Matthew Mills was in the wars at both ends and required treatment when Madrid keeper Antonio Adan caught the former Reading man as he saved from a Paul Gallagher free kick. Mills was then at fault for Madrid's opener, back-pedalling away from a chipped pass by Marcelo. He is easily beaten to the ball by Benzema, who skilfully rounds Schmeichel and leaves for Callejon to tap home.

That was the last action for Mills, succumbing to his head injury, and he was replaced by Sean St Ledger who performed admirably for the remainder of the game.

With Los Blancos in the ascendancy, half-time came at an opportune moment for the home side who had hardly been outplayed but were beginning to suffer from their opponents' pure class.

Madrid came out late for the second period but resumed where they had left-off, pressuring City in their own half. Only the combined efforts of Sol Bamba and Schmeichel denied the visitors the chance to widen the gap,  something they eventually achieved after a quick break forward.

The ball fell to a sprinting Xabi Alonso who slid in Benzema, the Frenchman in turn passing to Coentrao. His deft flick gave Marcelo shooting space and, despite the efforts of St Ledger to close him down, he managed a shot on goal that rebounded off the post and fortuitously fell for Benzema who could not miss.

An array of changes from both managers took pace out of the game and the Foxes were able to claw their way back into the match, surging forward and beginning to trouble Iker Casillas in the Madrid net, Steve Howard's header saved at the last by the World Cup winning keeper.

Then, with a minute left, a surging run from Lloyd Dyer saw him beat his man and win a throw-in. Bamba touched-on a superb long delivery from Lee Peltier and Dyer thrashed a superb volley beyond Casillas to grab a goal back for Leicester. Long balls forward allowed City to apply pressure in added time, but the Madrid defence fended-off the Foxes' efforts and the final whistle blew to a standing ovation from a capacity crowd.

The Foxes were not undone by the Galacticos, who failed to break into the game and dominate in their typical possessive style. Sven Goran Eriksson will have been impressed to see his side apply pressure to one of the world's top sides and to see that they were not embarrassed by them. Indeed, this was a performance that galvanised a belief in winning that now exists within a strong Foxes camp: it must be noted that the home side's only goal came when apparently second eleven players made their appearance, evidence of the strength in depth Eriksson has built within his large squad.

Most importantly, 32,188 football fans were able to witness their idols' idols playing their team in their home town. A friendly fixture this may have been, but for those youngsters who lined the pitch at full time they will never forget that they saw Ronaldo, Kaka, Casillas, Ramos and Alonso play their Leicester City.

Foxes will face Real Madrid first XI

Jose Mourinho has announced Real Madrid's travelling squad that will tour England and China, taking in tomorrow's nPower Challenge Cup fixture against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.

The squad includes Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka amongst its big names, with World Cup winners Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso also named. The Foxes' multi-millionaire Thai owners are rumoured to have paid in excess of £1 million to bring Los Blancos to the King Power Stadium and will expect Mourinho to field a full-strength eleven.

Real Madrid's full travelling squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers:

Iker Casillas, Antonio Adan, Tomas Mejias, Jesus

Defenders:

Alvaro Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Raul Albiol, Pepe, Raphael Varane, Ricardo Carvalho, Marcelo Vieira, Fabio Coentrao, Nacho

Midfielders:

Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira, Nuri Sahin, Jose Maria Callejon, Estiban Granero, Mehut Ozil, Kaka, Angel Di Maria

Forwards:

Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gonzalo Higuain, Vedran Jese

Fernandes set to sign

International: Fernandes has 33 Swiss caps

Swiss midfielder Gelson Fernandes is set to become Sven Goran Eriksson's tenth signing of the summer and will be unveiled as a Leicester City player at the King Power Stadium tomorrow.

Fernandes, 24, previously played for Eriksson during the Swede's tenure at Manchester City and was very much a favourite of the former England boss. Now, Eriksson is looking to strengthen his midfield and has turned to St Etienne player, out of favour at the French club.

With Michael Ball also set to sign his contract in the next 24 hours, the Foxes will have a strong squad to face Real Madrid at a sold-out King Power Stadium tomorrow evening. However, rumours are strongly suggesting that Eriksson has one further trick up his sleeve and that he will unveil a twelfth star signing before kick-off.

"We want two players for every position and we have that with defenders and midfielders now," said Eriksson, "We hope to get the same for the strikers, so we hope one or two more will come in."

"I hope we are close," he added, "There are different targets, but I hope that something will happen."

Eriksson nets Johnson on loan

Reports have strongly signalled that Sven Goran Eriksson has made his ninth signing of the summer, negotiating a deal to take Michael Johnson on loan from Manchester City until the end of the season.

Eriksson worked with the 23-year-old midfielder during his time with the Citizens and he will add valuable Premier League experience to an already strong midfield set-up that includes Andy King amongst its younger stars.

A graduate of the Everton academy, Johnson signed his first professional contract at the City of Manchester Stadium and has made 37 appearances for Manchester City, scoring twice. He was linked for a move to a Championship club earlier in the summer but it seems almost certain now that Eriksson's ties with the Eastlands club have assured that Leicester will be successful in their bid to net Johnson.

Ball and Tunchev to be offered contracts

Out-of-contract Aleksander Tunchev and trailist Michael Ball are both set to be offered contracts at the King Power Stadium, following the pair's impressive displays in pre-season.

Both Ball, 31, and Tunchev, 30, have done enough to impress Sven Goran Eriksson, who confirmed to Of Fosse and Foxes in Austria that the pair are likely to sign. Those deals now seem to be even closer after both players completed ninety minutes against Kettering Town last night.

Against the Poppies Tunchev stood as a commanding presence at centre half alongside Sean St Ledger, whilst Ball impressed in midfield before he stood-in at left-back after Bruno Berner was replaced at half time.

Tunchev has been with the Foxes for nearly three years but only played a significant run of games in his first six months at the then Walkers Stadium, falling foul to successive knee injuries that saw him on the physio's table for eighteen months. Ball, meanwhile, has been without a club for two years after he was released by Manchester City in 2009.   

Foxes held by defiant Poppies

On the Ball: Michael had a solid 90 minutes

Leicester City failed to beat a makeshift Kettering Town side at Rockingham Road in a game that saw a number of fringe players make a success of their chance to shine against inferior opposition.

An impressive showing from Franck Moussa in the centre of the midfield was capped by his superbly placed headed goal after Martyn Waghorn's efforts on the wing paid-off. Michael Ball played a full ninety minutes that should earn him a contract, whilst Aleksandar Tunchev also played the whole game, apparently with no ill effects.

Of note was the debut performance of youngster Liam Moore, the eighteen year-old fulfilling a solid shift at right-back, accompanying a lively Lloyd Dyer on that wing.

Moussa's goal came as a first half equaliser after Kettering took a surprising lead after quarter of an hour. Jean-Paul Marna was set free and his superb effort left Chris Weale with no chance. That was to be a blip in a game very much dominated by Leicester.

That the Foxes did not thump the Poppies by a number of goals may have incurred some fears among fans but City controlled large parts of this game. Kettering's lead was a boost to their fans - almost outnumbered by a vast Leicester support - but further flashes of inspiration from the Poppies was not forthcoming until later in the game, as the Foxes appeared almost to lose interest in what became a flat second half.

Now, Leicester must look ahead to Saturday's glamour friendly against Real Madrid, the first of the 2011/12 season at the newly-named King Power Stadium. Sven Goran Eriksson will be unlikely to field any of the fourteen or so players featured tonight, but no doubt the likes of Steve Howard and Matt Oakley will have been keen to show they still have the potential to mix it with the youngsters bursting with energy to fill the substitutes' bench. 

EXCLUSIVE: Berner set for Leicester stay

Bruno Berner will remain at Leicester City, Of Fosse and Foxes can exclusively reveal.

The Swiss former international was linked with a move away from the King Power Stadium after Sven Goran Eriksson secured the signing of Paul Konchesky to bolster his options at left back, but Berner is not put-off by the competition.

Instead, he has confirmed to our sources that he is committed to fighting for his place at Leicester and completing his coaching badges, as he reiterated to the BBC's Ian Stringer when he acted as guest pundit on the BBC Leicester coverage of the Foxes' final pre-season tour game against Valencia.

Foxes beaten by Spanish giants

Leicester were a team beaten by the better side when they took on their final opponents of this pre-season's overseas tour.

Liquid football: Yuki Abe battles to win the ball against Valencia

That is not to say that the Foxes made it easy for Valencia, more that the Spanish opposition were a superior outfit with their usual fluid, passing movement impressing the few who made the trip from the East Midlands to the SV Wernberg Stadium in southern Austria.

The Foxes' put in a valiant defensive performance but Valencia made Leicester chase the ball and made their possession count when before half an hour was played, Brazilian international Jonas finishing well after he was put-in by Aritz Aduriz. The Foxes had their opportunities - Paul Konchesky had a lively game on the wing as he once again impressed - but were not able to make it count, Steve Howard notably unable to make a rare breakaway count as he fired wide in the closing minutes.

Whilst manager Sven Goran Eriksson will be disappointed to see this pre-season's unblemished record blotted, he will be cheered by a resilient performance from his side that saw the better team only win by a single goal. Another day could have seen the Foxes grab an equaliser, but on this occasion their efforts were stifled by a team that held the ball well and denied Leicester the chance to create opportunities using their own brand of passing football.

Instead, the best chances came from long-ball clearances: if this strategy is to pay off against good teams in the Championship, Steve Howard could swiftly become a key man in Eriksson's play-off ambitions. But, if Eriksson is right in believing his team to be the best in the league, that will not be an issue he will have to face. A Tuesday night away in Doncaster presents very different challenges to those found on a misty evening in Austria, against one of Spain and Europe's top sides.

King Power Stadium taking shape

Leicester City's newly-named home is taking shape for the new season, with a new pitch now laid and advertising banners being altered to reflect the change in stadium sponsorship from Walkers to King Power.

Images posted on the FoxesTalk blog reveal the first of the alterations, a panoramic view of the inside of the ground revealing that, with a week remaining for work to take place before City's glamour friendly against Real Madrid, 'Walkers' lettering built-in to the seating at either end of the ground is being re-laid to spell-out 'King Power'.

Revamp: The Walkers Stadium is undergoing it's transformation to the King Power Stadium

Meanwhile, the banner that used to run around the top of the stadium has been removed, with rumour suggesting it may be replaced with electronic advertising boards or indeed a new banner carrying the King Power brand.

Outside, new posters have been erected and the brand new giant electronic displays are awaiting installation. The club's megastore is continuing to undergo refurbishment.

All is set to be completed in a week's time, ready for the arrival of Jose Mourinho's Galacticos and a capacity 32,262 crowd.

Pantsil is Eriksson's 8th summer signing

Leicester City are set to unveil John Pantsil as the club's eighth signing of this summer's transfer window.

The 30-year-old defender - whose name also appears as 'Paintsil' in some literature - will add depth to an increasingly strong Foxes' back-line, as he joins Matt Mills, Paul Konchesky, Sean St. Ledger and rival right back Lee Peltier as a newcomer to Leicester's back four.

Having been released by Fulham, Pantsil has been widely tipped this week to be linking-up with Sven Goran Eriksson and the travelling Foxes' party on their tour of Austria. However, having signed his three-year deal late in the week it is currently unknown if the Ghanaian international will travel to join his new team-mates.

“I have just signed a three-year contract with Leicester City,” he told GHANAsoccernet.com, “I visited the club yesterday, met the coach and some of the club officials and I am very happy with what I saw. “The club has got a lot of ambition to succeed at the high level with their fantastic fans and that is why I chose to join them despite some other offers."

Pantsil has been capped 66 times in a successful career with the Ghana national team, spanning periods at West Ham United and Fulham in England after playing for Berekum Arsenal and Liberty Professionals in Ghana and Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel. He moved to Craven Cottage in a combined deal with Bobby Zamora worth at least £6.8 million, appearing 75 times for the Cottagers before falling out-of-favour with new boss Martin Jol last month.