Ipswich Town reportedly come up short with offer for Leicester City forward George Hirst

Ipswich Town have reportedly had a bid rejected by Leicester City for striker George Hirst.

The 23-year-old is believed to be towards the top of Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna's transfer wishlist this summer, with the frontman having impressed during a loan spell with fellow EFL League One outfit Portsmouth last season.

However, according to Portsmouth News, an offer lodged this week from Ipswich has fallen short of the Premier League Foxes' valuation of their former England youth international.

The report adds that Portsmouth are also keen for Hirst to return to Fratton Park after the previous term's 15-goal haul.

Speaking recently Pompey boss Danny Cowley made no secret of his desire to be reunited with the centre-forward. He said: "We’d love to sign George Hirst and we speak to him on a regular basis. He’s a boy who’s on a brilliant journey.

"He’s now back with Leicester and training with the first team. That’s great, because this time last year he was with the under-23 group. It will be great for him to have that exposure to Leicester’s first team.

"They have a wonderful coach in Brendan Rodgers he will be learning from every day. Also he will be up against that level of player and the intensity in training will be great for him.

"I know, having spoken to him, he’s enjoying it and done well. We will wait to see what Leicester’s decision is on him, but if he is available to us we should and need to move heaven and earth to bring him back."

While Ipswich and Portsmouth are both known to be battling for Hirst's signature, further speculation has cited interest from the Championship, with both Rotherham United and Blackburn Rovers among the clubs named.

Hirst has 12 months left to run on his Leicester deal after arriving at the King Power Stadium in the summer of 2019 from Belgian side OH Leuven. He has made just two top flight appearances for the east Midlands club.