Leicester City have accepted a £1.5 million bid from the Blues for centre-half Gareth McAuley, according to one of this morning's tabloids. McAuley is Jim Magilton's number one defensive target during the transfer window, Town having missed out on his signature in January.

Magilton has confirmed that a renewed bid for the Northern Irishman had been made earlier in the summer, but there is as yet no word from Portman Road on whether this latest report is correct.

However, the Town manager didn't appear to be expecting any immediate developments when he spoke about McAuley over the weekend: "We made a written offer a few weeks ago, which was rejected so we are now being patient. There is no point bidding against ourselves and we have made a very fair price.

"There has been a lot of upheaval at Leicester with the manager going and a new chief executive coming in.

"We will see what difference that makes but we know the lad has made it clear he wants Championship or Premier League football. Gareth is a very good player who will be a welcome addition to our squad.”

Town made three offers for McAuley in January but the 28-year-old eventually signed a new deal in February aimed at keeping him at the Walkers Stadium until 2011.

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