LEICESTER CITY have opened talks with Southampton over a transfer for Jannik Vestergaard.
But Saints are holding out for a deal worth £15m plus add-ons for the central defender.
Brendan Rodgers has been left short of defensive options and is keen to bolster his back line before the window closes.
Wesley Fofana broke his leg during the pre-season win over Villarreal while Jonny Evans has missed pre-season with a foot problem.
It is understood the Foxes submitted an offer of £15m on Wednesday – but the south-coast club want the extras.
Vestergaard, 29, is into the final year of his contract at St Mary’s, with Leicester tracking him for the last couple of seasons, meaning Saints are open to cash in rather than lose him for free next summer.
The 6ft 6ins Danish defender, an international team-mate of Foxes skipper Kasper Schmeichel, would add experience and much-needed physicality into the defence, especially at set-pieces where Rodgers’ side have struggled.
He excelled for Ralph Hasenhuttl last term, making 30 Premier League appearances – and chipped in with three goals at the other end.
Ironically, he was sent off in the 1-1 draw with the Foxes in April for a tenth-minute lunge on Jamie Vardy – although it was later rescinded.
Vestergaard’s former Southampton team-mate Ryan Bertrand has already made the switch from St Mary’s to the King Power this summer.
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Leicester have also been linked with James Tarkowski from Burnley as well as free agents Gary Cahill or Scott Dann as potential options in defence.
Currently, Caglar Soyuncu is the only recognised centre-back from last season fit and available to face Wolves on Saturday following Wes Morgan’s retirement.
Utility-man Daniel Amartey played alongside Soyuncu in the Community Shield win while Filip Benkovic and 17-year-old Ben Nelson also featured in pre-season.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
