Leicester City are reportedly eyeing up a move for Middlesbrough defender Djed Spence as manager Brendan Rodgers seeks to address his injury-hit backline.

What's the story?

According to Football League World, the Foxes are one of two Premier League clubs hoping to secure the highly-rated 21-year-old's services this summer, with Southampton also credited with an interest.

New arrival Jannik Vestergaard joined the extensive injury list at the King Power Stadium following an innocuous training ground incident, so Leicester are believed to be in the market for extra reinforcements before the current transfer window closes.

Jon Rudkin must swoop

Comfortable at either right-back or on the right wing, Spence has established himself as one of the Championship's most exciting young talents over the last couple of campaigns.

Previous 'Boro boss Jonathan Woodgate lauded him as "exceptional" following a standout performance when he was still a teenager, but current manager Neil Warnock has gone even further in his praise for the youngster.

“If you look at one or two of the full-backs that are around now - the lad at Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and the lad at Manchester United from Palace (Aaron Wan-Bissaka) - they are all the same type as Djed," declared the 72-year-old.

“He does have enormous ability, and when you’ve got ability like that it’s criminal if you don’t get to the very top. But as I said to him in that first couple of weeks, he’ll only have himself to blame if he doesn’t get to the very top.

“He has quite a few things to brush up on at the minute, and I’m sure he will try. He’s a very good trainer and works hard,” he concluded.

With James Justin set for an extended spell on the sidelines and Marc Albrighton currently the only natural right-sided forward in the first team squad at Leicester, Spence's prospective arrival could plug multiple gaps in Rodgers' setup.

Therefore, director of football Jon Rudkin must swoop for the versatile gem before the Saints snap him up.

Spence may be far from the finished article at this moment in time, but Rodgers is one of the best in the business when it comes to developing young talent, and the 21-year-old could be the latest diamond in the rough to benefit from the Northern Irishman's tutelage.

In other news... Forget Perez: £40.5m-rated Leicester liability who lost possession 15 times let Rodgers down v West Ham