Leicester City eyeing up ex-England international amid West Ham contract saga | OneFootball

Leicester City have eyed a free transfer for Callum Wilson, who could be released by West Ham United.

Leicester City are plotting a free transfer swoop for West Ham United striker Callum Wilson, who could be released by the Premier League club this month.

Wilson has fallen in the pecking order at the London Stadium, after Nuno Espirito Santo's men acquired Pablo and Valentin Castellanos from Gil Vicente and Lazio, respectively.

Meanwhile, Leicester moved up to 12th in the Championship table thanks to their 2-1 victory over West Brom on Monday, reigniting their play-off hopes after a period of inconsistent form.

Foxes boss Marti Cifuentes is now vying to add more firepower to his ranks in the January transfer window, and Wilson's signature on a free transfer would be a shrewd piece of business.

Leicester City battle Saudi Pro League clubs in Callum Wilson transfer race

Wilson has scored four goals in 17 Premier League appearances this term, but West Ham have now turned towards Pablo and Castellanos in their battle to avoid relegation to the Championship.

As reported by BBC Sport on Tuesday, the Hammers are in talks to terminate the 33-year-old's contract, while the London Stadium side are now seven points adrift of safety, following a 2-1 home defeat to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest.

Meanwhile, speaking about Wilson's future live on TalkSPORT on Thursday, transfer expert Ben Jacobs revealed: "The Saudi Pro League are looking at Callum Wilson, Al-Shabab and possibly Al-Ettifaq, but keep an eye on the Championship.

"I'm told Callum Wilson is also on Leicester's radar, assuming he becomes a free agent, because they won't want to, or be able to pay any kind of fee to West Ham."

The striker's stint at the London Stadium has been a largely forgettable one, but he previously demonstrated his goal-scoring class with former clubs Newcastle United and Bournemouth.

Callum Wilson can give Leicester the inspiration they need in Championship play-off hunt

Leicester have suffered nine defeats in the Championship this term, leading to some doubts over whether former Queens Park Rangers boss Cifuentes is the right man to guide the King Power Stadium club to a Premier League return.

However, by claiming 2-1 wins over Derby County and West Brom, either side of their 3-1 defeat to Sheffield United, the Foxes have lifted themselves to within four points of sixth-place Watford.

With fresh hopes of a play-off finish now intact, Leicester can heavily bolster their squad by signing Wilson, who should have what it takes to produce consistent goals in the Championship.

The nine-cap England international proved his worth at Newcastle by scoring 49 goals in 130 appearances for the Magpies, even though he was Alexander Isak's understudy throughout his last three seasons in the North East.

Wilson is best-known for his goal-scoring exploits in the Premier League, but he was previously a dangerous EFL attacker with both Bournemouth and Coventry City.

Leicester's top scorer in the Championship this season is former Birmingham City midfielder Jordan James, with eight strikes in the second tier, proving that the ex-Newcastle hotshot's signature is what Cifuentes needs to keep his side's top-six hopes alive.

If the Foxes move quickly in the race to sign Wilson, he could play against his former club, Coventry, on 17 January - and that would certainly be a turn-up for the books.