Leicester City are attempting to thwart rivals West Ham in their pursuit of striker Kelechi Iheanacho, according to the Telegraph.
The newspaper claim that Foxes manager Craig Shakespeare is aware that a deal to sign the out-of-favour goalscorer is a realistic possibility, and is ready to offer £25million to Manchester City.
Iheanacho, 20, has been deemed surplus to requirements at the Etihad by manager Pep Guardiola, and a number of Premier League clubs have been alerted to the situation.
The Nigeria international was handed only seven starts from his 29 appearances in all competitions for Man City last term, scoring seven goals.
Top-flight duo Everton and Crystal Palace are also understood to be in the race to sign the young striker this summer, and the latest competition could provide a bitter blow to the Hammers’ ambitions.
West Ham have made a move for a new goalscorer a top priority this season, following a disappointing campaign in the Premier League during 2016-17.
Speedy winger Michail Antonio had finished as the club’s top goalscorer with only nine league goals, despite missing the final six matches through injury.
But the absence of a prolific centre-forward remains a main area of concern for Slaven Bilic, who has wasted little time in pursuing a number of different avenues this summer.
It was earlier revealed on The West Ham Way that talks over a deal to sign Iheanacho this summer had stalled, but that a deal between West Ham and Manchester City was “not yet dead.”
But the continued failure to strike an agreement could allow their Premier League rivals to swoop in and hijack a deal, and the Telegraph say Leicester have made him a priority.