FORMER Middlesbrough loanee Zack Steffen says recent speculation linking the goalkeeper with a move to Leicester City this summer was news to him.

Having spent last term as Boro's No.1, Steffen wants a move this summer to play regular football again next season rather than return to Manchester City and play a bit-part role as cover.

Enzo Maresca left Manchester City to take over as new Leicester City boss this summer and admitted he's keen to take advantage of his strong links with his former club.

Maresca is said to have identified Steffen as a top target as he looks for a new keeper, but Steffen says there's been no contact at this stage.

“All my friends told me about this Leicester [report], but I haven’t heard anything from my agent,” the keeper told the media in USA.

“So my focus is just to get healthy and build a foundation of strength, and then whatever else the Lord has for me, I’ll let him plan out.”

Steffen's immediate priority is to work his way back to full fitness. The 28-year-old had knee surgery at the start of the summer, with the issue having been closely managed throughout his loan spell at Boro.

“It was needed, and this was the best time to do it,” he said.

"Hopefully this is the last time I have to go underneath the knife."

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Steffen played 42 times for Boro last season and was a key man for Michael Carrick. As highly as the head coach rates the USA international, his earnings at Manchester City always made a permanent Teesside switch unlikely this summer.

Steffen says Manchester City have taken "great care " of him this summer in the aftermath of his surgery, but he's made it clear he wants a permanent move so he can establish himself as a first choice No.1.

In March, he said: “I don’t think I’ll go back. No, I want to be playing. Although I had a great time at City and I love those guys, and obviously [it’s] an amazing club, I don’t really have any plans to go back."