Chester City could be in for a financial windfall next month, if the interest shown by a clutch of Premier League clubs in the Ipswich Town striker Jon Walters results in a transfer.

Newcastle United, Sunderland and West Ham have all monitored the 24-year-old Birkenhead-born player’s progress throughout the season, with the two North Eastern clubs reportedly poised to make an offer for the former City player.

Walters, who was signed by Chester on a free transfer from Wrexham in June 2006, was transferred to Ipswich last January for a fee of £100,000, with the deal also stipulating that City receive 20% of any transfer fee received if the player was subsequently sold by the Championship outfit.

Reports this week have valued the former Republic of Ireland under-21 forward at in excess of £1m, which would net Chester a healthy six-figure new-year present if a deal was concluded as expected.

Meanwhile, Chester last night strengthened their board of directors by appointing Wirral-based solicitor Ian Anderson to their boardroom.

Anderson, who has assisted the League Two club with a number of legal matters recently, is pleased with his appointment, saying: “It is a pleasure to be joining the Board of Chester City Football Club.

“These are exciting times for the club, and I like the way Stephen Vaughan does things.”