According to a recent report from The Sunday Mirror (via The Daily Record), Leicester City are one side keeping tabs on defender David Bates. The 22-year-old currently plays his football in Germany with second division side Hamburg having left Scottish giants Rangers during the summer, and he has certainly proven his worth to his new employers in his first few months at the Bundesliga 2 outfit.

And reports suggest that Claude Puel’s Leicester are one side keen on the Scotland Under-21 international, which is news that should be of huge concern to Foxes supporters given their side are well-stocked in the centre back department, unless of course they are unable to keep hold of Harry Maguire.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, England international Maguire was a defender very much in-demand throughout the summer transfer window after enjoying an excellent World Cup with his country, netting in their 2-0 win over Sweden in the quarter-finals to help them to the last four.

And while the Foxes have tied the 25-year-old down to a new and improved contract, the big sides in the country certainly have the financial muscle to still lure the defender away from the King Power Stadium - and perhaps their reported interest in Bates suggests that the club still see that as a genuine possibility.

After all, manager Puel has plenty of options in the centre back department following the summer arrival of Jonny Evans, Filip Benkovic, and Caglar Soyuncu, which adds to the likes of Maguire, Wes Morgan, and even Christian Fuchs who were already at the club.

Thus, it doesn’t make a great deal of sense to go after another centre back, regardless of how talented Scottish star Bates is, unless the club feel that they could well lose one of their current options, the most likely of which being England ace Maguire.

22-year-old Bates has helped Hamburg to six clean sheets in his eight Bundesliga 2 appearances this term to underline the impact he has had on their backline, and alongside showing his worth for Rangers last time round, it’s perhaps not overly surprising to see interest among Premier League clubs mount in the centre back.

But Leicester fans may be slightly bemused by their side’s reported interest in the defender given the plethora of options available to Puel, some of which in Morgan and Fuchs may well be coming to the twilight of their careers, but many in Benkovic, Maguire, and Soyuncu options for both the present and indeed the future.

However, given the huge amount of interest in Maguire over the summer, the interest in Bates may be indicative of a Leicester side knowing that they are going to seriously struggle to retain the 25-year-old in the coming transfer windows - thus, while Bates is a fine defender, these reports should be of huge concern to Foxes supporters.

Leicester fans… what do you think? Let us know!