Leicester have signed striker Martyn Waghorn from Sunderland for an undisclosed fee, reportedly in the region of £3million.

The 20-year-old had a hugely successful loan spell at the Walkers Stadium last season, scoring 12 goals in 43 appearances as the Foxes reached the Championship play-offs. He was also named the club’s young player of the year.

With DJ Campbell also having sealed a permanent return to Blackpool today, Waghorn is likely to make his comeback for Leicester against midlands rivals Coventry on Saturday.

“Leicester City Football Club is delighted to be able to welcome Martyn Waghorn back on a permanent basis,” said Foxes chairman Milan Mandaric.

“This is yet another example of Top Raksriaksorn showing his intention to take this club forward. Top has recognised a talented, young English striker and has provided the financial backing to turn the dream of his return into a reality.

“I know the fans will be as pleased as I am at the return of Martyn Waghorn. I know that (manager) Paulo (Sousa) has also wanted to make this signing for quite some time. We are all excited about the addition and eagerly await our next game against Coventry.”

Derby are ‘very close’ to agreeing a deal for Luke Varney to leave the club, coach Gary Crosby has confirmed.

The 27-year-old striker, who is one of the top earners at Pride Park, is not part of manager Nigel Clough’s first-team plans this season.

Several clubs have expressed an interest in doing a loan deal for Varney, who was not involved as the Rams lost 2-1 at midlands rivals Coventry on Saturday.

“We are very close to agreeing a deal with a couple of clubs for Luke and obviously we were not in a position to risk any injury that might jeopardise that,” said coach Crosby.

Varney moved to Pride Park on loan from Charlton in November 2008 and joined the Rams on a permanent basis the following January, but has made just 11 starts since.

The former Crewe forward made his first start for Derby in 15 months against Cardiff last weekend having spent the majority of last season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday.

Crosby insists Derby are still working to strengthen their squad.

The Rams’ recruitment drive appeared to step up over the weekend with manager Nigel Clough and coach Johnny Metgod taking in games.

After seeing his team lose 2-1 at Coventry in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off, Clough raced off to Meadow Lane to watch Notts County against Dagenham while Metgod was in Spain to check on a player.

“Getting players in is not easy for a number of reasons,” said Crosby. “We are restricted by financial constraints but that’s fine. We all have to work within certain budgets and it is very hard to do but we keep looking and keep trying.”

Injuries have left Derby down to the bones just two weeks into the new season.

Five strikers were unavailable to start at Coventry and left-back Dean Moxey had to fill in as a makeshift forward.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has quelled rumours that he is currently looking to sign Michael Mancienne from Chelsea on a permanent basis – for the moment.

McCarthy has already brought in six new players to Molineux this summer and insists that he must look to off-load personnel before attempting to bring in any more new faces.

The versatile Mancienne, who is comfortable in defence or as a holding midfielder, has already spent two seasons on loan at Wolves. According to reports he has asked for a transfer away from Stamford Bridge and it would cost Wolves around £4million if they wished to secure his services permanently.

Despite often speaking highly of Mancienne, McCarthy expressed his view on the situation saying, “I guess people should ask their (Chelsea’s) manager Carlo Ancelotti whether we should read anything into the transfer request.

“If I was reading anything into it, I suggest he wants a transfer! But that’s the first I’ve heard about it.

“I’m not looking at signings at all at the moment.

“We need to lose some players rather than take any more in and certainly won’t do any more business unless anyone leaves.”

Mancienne, who has also been linked with Spanish clubs Malaga and Sevilla as well as Portuguese outfit Sporting Lisbon, initially joined up with Wolves during their 2008/09 campaign, helping them gain automatic promotion from the Championship.

Wolves are currently 3.25 to be relegated from the Premier League 2010/11 and are 1.33 not to be relegated.

Their opening Premier League fixture sees them play host to rivals Stoke. Wolves are on offer at 2.30, the draw is available at 3.25 whereas Stoke are 2.87 to take all three points.

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New Charlton Athletic winger Kyel Reid has set his sights high after rejoining the Addicks on a permanent basis this summer.

The winger scored four goals in 18 appearances on loan with the Addicks last term and is back at The Valley after leaving Sheffield United.

Reid was part of the side which suffered penalty heartbreak in the play-off semi-final against Swindon and is determined to go one better this season.

“We’re aiming for automatic promotion,” he said.

“It will be tough, but anyone can beat anyone on their day. We’re looking strong and fit, I just think we need one or two more players and we’ll be fine.”

Wycombe new-boy Alan Bennett has hit out at former club Brentford and their manager Andy Scott following his move to Adams Park.

Bennett, who captained the Bees to the League Two title in 2009, spent two loan spells with the Chairboys last term before arriving on a permanent basis last week.

He was left with “a bitter taste” after his exit from Brentford and is keen to put the past behind him as he embarks on the next chapter of his career.

“I am happy to draw a line under the Brentford situation because it got a bit sticky towards the end and I’m happy to move on,” he told the Buckinghamshire Advertiser.

“I came back at the end of last season and asked the manager (Andy Scott) what my situation was and how the land lay for me and to see if I would get a second chance.

“He told me to come back and work hard but then he called me in and told me it was the end of the road so it was a bit of a slap in the face. The whole thing for me was a massive disappointment and left a bitter taste.”