SPECULATION linking Cherries with Leicester City winger Demarai Gray has resurfaced as the countdown to the closing of the transfer window gathers pace.

Gray, reportedly a long-time target for Cherries boss Eddie Howe, has become unsettled at the King Power Stadium due to a lack of game time.

And although Foxes boss Craig Shakespeare expects him to remain at the club, Cherries are said to be ready to test their resolve with a potential club record bid.

Gray, who starred for England at the European Under-21 Championship in the summer, netted a stunning goal in Leicester’s Carabao Cup win at Sheffield United on Tuesday.

It was his first start of the season having been restricted to late substitute appearances in the Foxes’ opening two Premier League games against Arsenal and Brighton.

A £3.5million buy from Birmingham halfway through Leicester’s 2015-16 title-winning campaign, Gray played 30 times in the top-flight last season, but only started nine games.

Reports suggest the fleet-footed winger has become increasingly frustrated, leading to Gray’s representatives speaking to the Leicester hierarchy about the prospect of more game time.

Speaking to the Leicester Mercury, Shakespeare said: “They came in to have a meeting with the director of football, I wasn’t privy to that.

“We’ve had conversations, myself and Dimi. It is well documented. We have spoken about trying to give him more game time and we are both happy with that.”

The Mercury has also stated that there is no release clause in Gray’s contract, despite reports there was one of £22m.

Earlier this month, a number of media outlets claimed Cherries had tabled a £20m offer for Gray, although the Daily Echo learned these stories were without substance.

Everton, Tottenham, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund are also said to be suitors of a player Cherries had been keen to sign during the promising youngster’s spell at Birmingham.

Rumours of Cherries’ interest intensified yesterday when The Sun claimed the Dorset club was poised to offer £25m for Gray, claiming he saw a potential move south as “an ideal platform to develop his Premier League career”.

Vitality Stadium boss Howe has admitted publicly his admiration of the 21-year-old's ability but last week declined to comment on the long-running speculation.

Howe said: “I made it very clear previously when Demarai was at Birmingham that we did like the player but he is very much a Leicester player now and I won’t comment on other people’s players.”

Cherries recently allowed Max Gradel to join Toulouse on loan, freeing up space in the squad for another winger should Howe opt to bolster in that position.

The departure of Gradel, Lewis Grabban and several other squad members is also likely to have reduced the wage bill at Vitality Stadium, possibly paving the way for a signing ahead of the window closing at the end of the month.