CHESTER CITY are hoping to complete the loan transfer of the Leyton Orient striker Lee Steele later today.

The 32-year-old Liverpudlian is keen to return to the North West for personal reasons, and if the Londoners' chairman Barry Hearn sanctions the deal Steele will go straight into the City squad who face Barnet at Underhill tomorrow.

"We would initially take Lee on a three-month loan arrangement, and then sign him permanently when the transfer window opens in January," said Chester chairman Stephen Vaughan last night.

"Barry Hearn is out of the country on business at the moment, and I will talk to him when he returns to this country on Friday.

"If the loan transfer is sanctioned by Barry, we would then sign the player on an 18-month contract. It is a move that suits all parties, and hopefully all the details will be concluded prior to the Barnet game," added Vaughan.

Chester manager Mark Wright is also looking at a couple other loan player options, and it is possible that Steele would not be the only newcomer to City's squad in the next few days.

One player who won't be coming to the Deva Stadium is the Boston United striker Antony Elding. The player refused to move to Chester yesterday and is now expected to join Nationwide Conference side Burton Albion.

Meanwhile, City striker Drewe Broughton completed his loan move to Boston last night. The 28-year-old has initially signed for the Lincolnshire club for a month.

Wright is still keen to sign the Lincoln City winger Ryan Semple, however, the Chester manager won't complete the transaction until Semple has seen a specialist and received a clean bill of health following his recent hamstring injury.

Wright is running the rule over the Sheffield United youngster Nicky Travis. The 19-year-old midfielder has trained with City this week, and may be included in a reserve team match next Wednesday.