Leicester City central defender Gareth McAuley is today's player claimed to be interesting the Blues by the tabloids. The 28-year-old Northern Ireland international is reportedly valued at £1 million.

Town fans will remember McAuley from the Foxes' 2-0 win at Portman Road in February when the former Linfield, Crusaders, Coleraine and Lincoln man scored both goals.

McAuley, 6ft 3in tall, joined Leicester on a free transfer from the Imps in the summer of 2006 after his contract at Sincil Bank came to an end. His current deal at the Walkers Stadium is up in the summer of 2009.

The Larne-born centre-half is a regular for Leicester and it would be a surprise if they were to allow him to leave, although new manager Ian Holloway may have a January target lined-up as a replacement for McAuley, who has been capped eight times by Northern Ireland.

McAuley, if there is any truth in the story, looks to be a long-term replacement for Jason De Vos rather than a partner for the Canadian. Interest in McAuley may signal that boss Jim Magilton is no longer eyeing Hibs centre-half Rob Jones, the Town manager having admitted interest in the former Grimsby man back in the summer.

Meanwhile, Jon Walters is named in The Independent's Twenty Best Players Outside the Premier League at number nine. Owen Garvan is included in a separate list of Ten Teenagers to Watch.

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