Two Championship clubs are reportedly pursuing Leicester City players this week, with Derby County said to have submitted a formal bid for midfielder Hamza Choudhury and Wrexham in talks over centre-back Harry Souttar.

Derby's move for Choudhury

According to the Leicester Mercury, Derby have bid for Choudhury, a 28-year-old defensive midfielder who holds Bangladesh international caps. Leicester are said to be keen to move the player on and reduce their wage bill, which suggests the deal could hinge more on finances than on footballing fit alone.

Choudhury has spent the bulk of his senior career at Leicester, with loan spells at Watford and Nottingham Forest giving him Championship experience in previous seasons. For Derby, who are working their way through a rebuild after years of financial turmoil, signing a player with that kind of second-tier familiarity would represent practical recruitment rather than marquee business. Whether the bid is at a level acceptable to Leicester remains to be seen.

Derby drew 2-2 with Cardiff in their most recent league outing and will be looking to strengthen the engine room of the side as the window progresses. A midfielder capable of doing defensive work would address a clear need for a squad still finding its feet at this level.

Wrexham in talks for Souttar

Sky Sports report that Wrexham are in discussions with Leicester over Harry Souttar, the 27-year-old Australian international centre-back. Souttar has represented Australia at international level and brings a physical presence and aerial ability that would bolster Wrexham's back line.

The reported stumbling block for other interested parties is Leicester's asking price, put at £10 million by Sky Sports. Sheffield United are said to have looked at the player but were put off by that figure. Whether Wrexham are prepared to meet that valuation, or whether a loan or reduced structure is being explored, is not specified in the report. It is worth noting that the club has been publicly cautious about transfer activity this window, with manager Phil Parkinson having already played down expectations of guaranteed new arrivals.

Wrexham have also been linked with other defensive additions in recent weeks. Adding Souttar would represent one of the more significant pieces of business the club has done in terms of transfer fee, if a permanent deal at anywhere near the reported asking price were concluded. As it stands, these are talks rather than a completed move, and supporters should treat it accordingly.

What it means for both clubs

Both deals, if they materialise, would follow a familiar pattern in the Championship transfer market: clubs further up the food chain making players available, and second-tier sides weighing up whether the cost and the wages stack up against the footballing gain.

Leicester, operating in a different division, have contract obligations that are unlikely to align neatly with Championship budgets. Parachute payments and more straightforward financial situations can make some of those deals workable, but the gap in wage expectations remains a regular complication in this kind of window business.

For Derby and Wrexham alike, neither club will want to be seen overpaying for players whose parent club simply wants them off the books. Getting genuine value, rather than just filling a position, tends to be the difference between a window that improves a squad and one that simply adds numbers to a wage bill.

These remain rumours at this stage. Both stories are attributed to media reports rather than official club announcements, and the Championship window has a habit of producing late movement in either direction.

Frequently asked

Has Derby County signed Hamza Choudhury?
Not yet. According to the Leicester Mercury, Derby have submitted a bid for the 28-year-old midfielder, but no deal has been announced. It remains a reported approach at this stage.
Is Harry Souttar joining Wrexham?
Wrexham are reported by Sky Sports to be in talks with Leicester City over the Australian centre-back, but no transfer has been confirmed. Leicester are said to be seeking around £10 million for the player.
Why are Leicester selling Choudhury and Souttar?
Reports suggest Leicester are looking to reduce their wage bill. Both players are surplus to requirements at their current club, making them available to Championship sides this window.