Boss Jim Magilton has confirmed that Leicester City have turned down a bid for central defender Gareth McAuley. The Northern Irishman was linked with a £1 million move to the Blues yesterday.

Magilton said: “There are one or two other things going on but we must learn to be patient.

“I have watched Gareth play in the Northern Ireland side and have known him for a long while. He can play as a central defender and I have seen him do well at right-back.

“We made a very good bid and we will be seeing over the weekend what our next step will be.

“Both McAuley and Norris will make us a better team and they are both still in our thoughts.”

Town fans will remember 28-year-old 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 has been a regular for Leicester this season and has been capped eight times by Northern Ireland.

Town's move for McAuley and continuing links with Birmingham's Martin Taylor suggests that the Blues boss's interest in Hibs defender Rob Jones may have cooled.

Magilton has also commented on Marcus Evans's role in Town securing new signings: “I give my recommendations to him and he either backs me or not.

“It is no different really to going to the board of directors as before. Mr Evans is involved, but not in any other way than a club chairman would be.”

Magilton and chairman David Sheepshanks both met with the club's new owner in London earlier in the week.

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