Leicester looking up

Peter Taylor's main priority this season will be to shake off the spectre of Martin O'Neill, according to BBC Sport Online's chief football writer Phil McNulty.

Leicester City manager Peter Taylor has been shopping at the higher end of the market after a season of promise fizzled out in disappointment.

Taylor took over at Filbert Street at the start of last term - and strengthened his squad with re-inforcements from the lower division.

It was only a limited success, and in many respects, the shadow of Martin O'Neill still hangs over the club.

Taylor, this time, has gone for Premiership experience and quality to bolster his squad to take Leicester City on to the next stage of development.

Dennis Wise has arrived from Chelsea to add extra steel alongside the spiky Robbie Savage in midfield.

Taylor will hope that Wise's inspirational qualities will rub off on the rest of a squad that ran out of steam last season.

Leicester will also hope former England goalkeeper Ian Walker can recapture the form that earned him international honours at Spurs after his move to Filbert Street.

Walker is desperate to revive his career after a spell in the shadows behind Neil Sullivan at White Hart Lane - and Taylor is delighted with his £2.5m purchase.

  Summer transfers

IN

Dennis Wise (Chelsea)

Ian Walker (Spurs)

James Scowcroft (Ipswich Town)

OUT

Steve Guppy (Celtic)

Richard Cresswell (Preston)

Lawrie Dudfield (Hull)

And to complete a restructured spine of the the team, Taylor has gone for James Scowcroft, a striker he worked with at England under-21 level, to provide extra firepower up front, from Ipswich Town.

Taylor still has his doubters among the Leicester City faithful, but they cannot doubt his commitment after he cut his ties with England to concentrate solely on club affairs.

Leicester will depend heavily on the influence of men like Matt Elliott, although they have to contend with constant speculation linking the inspirational defender with former boss O'Neill at Celtic.

And they will have high hopes of a talented midfield trio of Wise, Savage and Muzzy Izzet.

Leicester are highly unlikely to struggle, but simple survival is not enough for fans now used to trophies and European football under O'Neill.

It is a vital season for Taylor, whose glittering reputation was dented by a tame end to last term - and for Leicester as they attempt to finally shake off the spectre of O'Neill.