New Leicester manager Nigel Pearson could hold the key to City's bid to bring back Darren Moore.

The Foxes are believed to be hot favourites in the race for the big defender, who has delayed making a decision on his future until he returns from a short family break.

City held talks with Moore last week and Stuart McCall would love to land his former team-mate, who he sees as a potential skipper for next season.

Moore has a year to go on his Derby contract but has been told by Paul Jewell he can leave if he finds another club.

If he chose Leicester, preparing for their first-ever season in the third tier, the 34-year-old would not have to uproot his family from their east midlands home.

Moore knows Leicester chairman Milan Mandaric well after he signed him from City for Portsmouth nine years ago.

But it will hinge on whether Pearson, unveiled yesterday as Leicester's sixth boss in 16 months under Mandaric, is just as keen on the big stopper.

Talking to the Telegraph & Argus McCall said: "Darren has gone away for a week just to weigh up all his options. He's been busy in the close season doing the management course that I went on before and this is the first chance he's had to have a break.

"So nothing will be happening with him in the short term and we probably won't know any more until Monday or Tuesday."

As with the other positions he is looking to fill, McCall has an experienced back-up target lined up if Moore does not come.

Derby chairman of football Adam Pearson admitted that nothing is "cut and dried" with Moore, who was named player of the season by the Pride Park fans during the club's doomed year in the Premier League.

Swansea and Doncaster, where Moore began his career, have also been strongly linked with him.