Leicester City are watching Schalke centre-back Salif Sane leading up to the winter market.
The Leicester Mercury says they made a summer enquiry for the Senegalese international.
City searched high and low for a new central defender in August after selling Harry Maguire to Manchester United for a club-record 80m.
City had a 30m offer for Burnley's James Tarkowski turned down, while contact was made with Bournemouth over Nathan Ake.
There were also reports of interest in Juventus's Merih Demiral, before they settled with their current options, Caglar Soyuncu promoted to partner Jonny Evans.
