Chester could be about to make former Salford City defender Steve Howson their first summer signing.

The strapping centre-back, now 32, was a mainstay of Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson's side at the Ammies, and is understood to be on the radar of the new Blues co-managers, who were officially appointed on Tuesday, just a week after leaving Salford by mutual consent.

He left Salford to sign for Curzon Ashton last summer, before moving to Southport in November but is set to move on from Haig Avenue six months later, following the sacking of former Bolton and Blackburn striker Kevin Davies.

Howson certainly sounds keen on a summer move, tweeting on Thursday morning: "Transfer window now officially open," before replying to suggestions of a move to Chester with "You know more than me."

Speaking to the Standard on Wednesday, Morley said: “We’ll get the ball rolling in terms of recruitment possibly by the end of this week. We won’t just bring anyone in for the sake of it but there’s a need for urgency now before players go on their holidays.”