Foxes' £3m bid for Everton striker Beckford is rebuffed

Beckford signed a four-year deal after arriving at Everton last season on a free transfer from Leeds (Getty Images)

Everton have rejected what is understood to be a bid of £3m from Leicester City for the striker Jermaine Beckford.

Sven Goran Eriksson, the Leicester manager, turned to Beckford after his attempts to sign Robbie Keane floundered – the former Spurs forward preferring the west coast of America to the East Midlands.

Beckford, 27, signed a four-year deal after arriving at Everton last season on a free transfer from Leeds. He was joint top scorer with Louis Saha on 10 goals in 38 matches last term. Eriksson is expected to return with a higher bid.