Leicester City could swoop for Preston midfielder Darren Carter

Darren Carter has emerged as a possible transfer target for Leicester City.

The 25-year-old midfielder had limited opportunities at Preston North End last season and could be allowed to leave.

Reports suggest City manager Nigel Pearson is considering a £750,000 offer for a player he coached while at West Brom.

A spokesman for City said: "The club does not comment on speculation."

Carter moved to Preston from the Hawthorns in August 2007 on a four-year deal. The initial fee was £750,000, rising to £1.5million depending on the number of appearances.

The Solihull-born player made 34 league and cup starts in his first season at Deepdale. He began last term in manager Alan Irvine's starting 11 before suffering an injury.

Carter featured in Preston's end-of-season run that took them to the Championship play-offs but made just 11 starts.

Whether Irvine believes Carter has a future at the club could depend on other developments. Nottingham Forest have tabled a £600,000 bid for fellow midfielder and club captain Paul McKenna, so the Preston boss may be reluctant to lose two players in that department.

Carter, an England Under-20 international, began his career with Birmingham City. After a short loan spell at Sunderland, he moved to West Brom for £1.5m in the summer of 2005.

During his spell at the Hawthorns, he worked with Pearson, who was assistant to Bryan Robson before a short spell as caretaker boss until the arrival of Tony Mowbray.

Carter has en eye for the spectacular. His stunning winner against Arsenal in October 2005 won West Brom's goal of the season, and City fans were given a sight of his power in March last year when a last-minute wonder-strike earned Preston a 1-0 win at the Walkers Stadium.

Meanwhile, former City defender Patrick Kisnorbo has declined an offer to join Australian A-League champions Melbourne Victoria.

Gary Cole, operations manager at the club, said Kisnorbo wanted to stay in English football. The 28-year-old has been linked with Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town.

The kick-off time for City's Championship game with Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday, October 3, has been switched from 3pm to 12.30pm on police advice.