Leicester City transfer news: Foxes close in on Sporting Gijon defender Luis Hernandez on free transfer

The champions are looking to strengthen in all areas ahead of their maiden campaign in Europe next season

Luis Hernández looks likely to become Claudio Ranieri's first signing of the summer (Getty)

Leicester City are closing in on their first summer signing with Luis Hernández, the Sporting Gijón defender, set to join on a free transfer.

The former Real Madrid trainee has been tracked by Leicester's scouting network for some time and will provide competition to centre-backs Wes Morgan and Robert Huth.

Hernández, 27, who can also fill in at right-back, is likely to be the first of many to arrive at the King Power Stadium this summer ahead of their maiden campaign in the Champions League.

Claudio Ranieri, the Leicester manager, is readying himself for an extensive summer recruitment programme and will now switch his focus to signing a back-up goalkeeper and a new striker to compliment Jamie Vardy, Shinji Okazaki and Leonardo Ulloa.

It was announced last week that Madrid-born Hernández would be leaving Gijón after helping them secure their La Liga status on the final day of the season.

Meanwhile, CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa has stated he would be “happy” to join Leicester after Leonid Slutsky, the Russian club’s manager, claimed they had received an offer in the region of £22.8m.

The recently-crowned Premier League champions attempted to lure the 23-year-old to the East Midlands in January but were unprepared to extend their valuation of the Nigeria international beyond £18m.

Musa told ESPN: “[Leicester and CSKA] have been talking since January, but it didn't happen. Now, I'm just waiting for them to finish. If they agree, why not? I'll be happy to join.”

His comments come after striker Andrej Kramarić, Leicester’s £7m signing from Rijeka in January 2015, completed a permanent switch to Hoffenheim for an undisclosed fee.