FORMER Swindon Town fan favourite Jerry Yates is set for a big-money move away from Blackpool this summer.

The Tangerines were relegated from the Championship at the end of the 2022-23 campaign and will be looking to bounce back quickly with Yates among their ranks.

But a bidding war between some big-hitters in English football has begun for Yates' services, with recently-relegated Leicester City showing the most obvious interest.

Yates, who scored 15 goals last term, has 12 months left on his contract at Bloomfield Road with the option of another year.

The Foxes - hoping to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking - are believed to have made a £2.5million pound bid to Blackpool earlier this week, according to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider.

That offer is said to have been turned down by the Tangerines as they look to hold out for upwards of £3million - the price tag they put on Yates earlier this summer.

Leicester, who remain without a manager after Dean Smith left the club following relegation, are rumoured to be competing for Yates' signature along with Premier League Luton Town as well as Championship clubs, West Bromwich Albion, Coventry City, and Ipswich Town.

Glasgow Rangers were reportedly keen earlier this summer but have now cooled their interest and have moved on to other targets.

The Foxes are said to be particularly keen on landing Yates as the futures of Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho remain up in the air.

Yates primarily played up front for Blackpool but is capable of operating anywhere across the front line - as he proved alongside Eoin Doyle at Town.

Since his season-long loan stint at Swindon ended in 2020 having just won League Two, Yates moved to Blackpool from Rotherham United and has enjoyed an excellent spell at Bloomfield Road.

Following 14 goals and an assist in 35 games for Town, the 26-year-old netted 46 times while laying on 18 others in 139 appearances for the Tangerines.

The 26-year-old cleaned up at Blackpool's end-of-season awards, bagging Players' Player of the Year, top scorer, and goal of the season.

According to The Sun, Blackpool are reluctant to sell Yates but are not planning to stand in the way of the striker playing at a higher level.