Former Manchester City defender Omar Elabdellaoui is being lined up for a free transfer return to England by a string of Premier League clubs.

Leicester, Aston Villa, Watford, Bournemouth and Burnley are among the sides monitoring Olympiacos and Norway’s attacking right-back Elabdellaoui.

The 27 year-old, who has captained both club and country, will be a free agent when his contract with the Greek giants expire next summer.

Leicester and Aston Villa are plotting a move for Norway right-back Omar Elabdellaoui

ELABDELLAOUI IN 2019-20 Appearances: 14 Minutes: 1,181 Yellow cards: 2 Clean sheets: 9 Advertisement

And interest in Elabdellaoui, who can also play as a right-winger, is mounting with his foreign suitors aware they can sign him on a pre-contract agreement from January 1.

Elabdellaoui shone again in Norway’s 1-1 draw against Spain on Friday, winning the injury time penalty Bournemouth’ Josh King converted to earn his side a point.

Elabdellaoui’s display in Oslo alerted clubs in Spain and Germany but his home grown status and experience in England makes a return to the Premier League more likely.

Elabdellaoui gets to grips with Son Heung-Min during Tottenham's 2-2 draw with Olympiacos

Elabdellaoui had five years on City’s books after joining the current champions aged 16 from Norwegian side Skeid. He has also since had a half season loan spell at Hull in 2017 under Marco Silva, his former Olympiacos manager.

Crystal Palace and Celtic both tried to sign Elabdellaoui in the summer but Olympiacos refused to do business as they considered him central to their Greek title bid and Champions League campaign.

Celtic remain interested and are expected to have a scout in Romania to watch Elabdelloui on Tuesday night along with representatives from Watford and Burnley.