The Blues have clinched a deal for striker Paul Taylor who scored 17 goals for Vauxhall Motors last season in the Blue Square North League.

An agreement was reached last night for the Liverpool-born 22-year-old after weeks of frustrating meetings between City and Taylor's agent.

Vauxhall had originally rejected a £50,000 bid from Chester for the forward, but the clubs have now agreed a loan arrangement with a view to a permanent deal.

Blues owner Stephen Vaughan and team boss Simon Davies were always keen to rekindle an interest in Taylor, who impressed for Motors in a pre-season friendly against City last term.

Davies said: "Paul is an exciting talent. We have now brought four new players to the club and it raises the selection bar for me.

"Paul will benefit from full-time training and it's up to him to impress and make the shirt his own."

A former Manchester City trainee, Taylor joined Vauxhall Motors at the start of last season and had a loan spell at Nottingham Forest where he scored a couple of goals for the reserves.

Taylor said: "The talks went on for a long time, but I'm delighted to come to Chester and have a chance of playing League football.

"I scored 17 goals last season at Vauxhall, so hopefully I can now do the same at Chester. There is a step up from where I've been playing, but I think I can do well.

"Chester are a very good club and I'll be hoping to help them have a good season."

City have been wanting to strengthen their attacking options and create competition for places in their front line.

John Murphy faced little opposition for his starting role last season with Nathan Lowndes suffering a long-term back injury, and youngsters Chris Holroyd and Paul McManus both being offered starting roles alongside Murphy.

Hopes of bringing ex-Chester strike ace, Luke Beckett, back to the Deva Stadium seemed to nosedive when interest in the Huddersfield Town forward was shown from fellow League Two club, Bradford City.

And City had been linked with a move for prolific striker Stuart Fleetwood, until the former Accrington Stanley, Hereford United, and Forest Green Rovers forward agreed to sign for Charlton Athletic last month.

Taylor was expected to join City's other new signings Anthony Barry, Jay Harris, and David Mannix when the players returned to training earlier today.

Meanwhile, Davies is now focusing his sights on two more signings.

He has emphasised the need to sign a goalkeeper in a bid to provide competition for first team shotstopper John Danby.

And the Blues have also been linked with a move for Liverpool centre half, Godwin Antwi, who has had loan spells at Hartlepool and Accrington Stanley.