Leicester set to up ante in bid to sign Middlesbrough forward Gaston Ramirez

Press Association Sport understands the Premier League champions have already had an offer for the 26-year-old turned down by Boro but Ramirez has reportedly handed in a transfer request in an attempt to force a move to the King Power Stadium.

The transfer window closes on Tuesday night, around an hour and a half after Leicester's league match at Burnley, and manager Claudio Ranieri is keen to reinforce his squad with Ramirez, who only signed a permanent deal with Boro last summer, top of his wanted list.

Ranieri would not talk about any specific players following Friday night's FA Cup draw at Derby but he said: "Yes it is important (to add to the squad), of course. I will now speak together with my sporting director to see if there is something good. If not then okay.

"I was so concentrated on this match I didn't think about the market. Now my mind is going to Burnley because it is a very important match."