Keown leaves Leicester

Leicester have terminated the contract of central defender Martin Keown by mutual consent.

The 38-year-old former Arsenal star, who signed on a one-year deal in the summer, is now free to look for another club after making just 18 appearances for the Foxes.

City boss Craig Levein will now be able to use the funds to bring fresh blood to the Walkers Stadium.

He told the club’s official website, www.lcfc.co.uk: “It’s now been three months since I arrived here at Leicester and during that time I’ve been making up my mind about which way we are heading.

“We do feel that the younger players are the way forward for the club.

“Martin has been great to work with. He has done a fantastic job but he is not the future and he understands that himself.

“Rather than wait until the summer we’ve accelerated things a little but and hopefully we will be able to use the money that we will gain from Martin leaving to bring in some other players.

Veteran Kevin Pressman is also expected to leave the Championship club following the signing of former Tottenham goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld.