LEICESTER are leading the chase for the next Jamie Vardy in Leyton Orient hotshot Macauley Bonne.

The in-demand 23-year-old has scored 17 goals already for the National League leaders this season.

3 Leyton Orient striker Macauley Bonne is taking the National League by storm this season Credit: Getty

And the Foxes are one of five Premier League teams who have shown an interest in the red-hot non-league striker.

Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Fulham and Huddersfield are also keen on Bonne, who is valued in the region of £500k.

O’s boss Justin Edinburgh claims the Londoners - top of the National League - do not have to sell Bonne, who signed a new two-year deal in August.

But the interest in their prized asset has gone through the roof in recent weeks due to his stunning form.

3 The Zimbabwe international has scored 17 goals in just 24 appearances so far this season Credit: Getty

3 Jamie Vardy was the original rags to riches story - could Macauley Bonne follow that same path? Credit: Alamy Live News

Championship clubs Norwich, Stoke, Nottingham Forest, QPR and Sheffield United all have Bonne on their radar too.

The Ipswich-born forward scored 25 goals last season after joining Orient from Colchester.

WHO IS MACAULEY BONNE? Age - 23 Position - Striker Born - Ipswich Current club - Leyton Orient International - Zimbabwe (2 apps, 1 goal) Former clubs - Colchester, Lincoln (loan), Woking (loan) Current season - 24 apps, 17 goals

That's the same number of goals as Vardy netted in his first campaign in non-league football with Halifax in 2011.

Bonne is currently joint top scorer in the National League, level with Salford's big-money forward Adam Rooney.

Althoug Bonne plays in England's fifth tier, he has two international caps with Zimbabwe after qualifying through his parents.