• Premier League

Coyle dampens Wheater speculation

Bolton Wanderers boss Owen Coyle has played down suggestions that Middlesbrough defender David Wheater is set to join the club in January.

The Trotters are short of options at centre back - with just two specialists on their books - and Coyle is thought to be looking to bolster the ranks in the transfer window.

A deal for Wheater appeared imminent when Wolves boss Mick McCarthy suggested the player was on his way to Bolton, but Coyle has distanced himself from this talk - although he stopped short of ruling out a move entirely.

"People recognise David Wheater might be available because of his contractual situation [his deal runs out in the summer], and people have looked and realised that Bolton only have two centre halves, and they've put two and two together," he said.

"He's a very talented young player, he's already shown in the Premier League that he can acquit himself at a very high level, and I think that's where the speculation come from."

Meanwhile, Coyle confirmed that he is yet to receive any approach for Gary Cahill, who is likely to be on Arsenal's radar as they pursue a centre back to ease their injury crisis. "I have not had any dialogue with another Premier League club regarding Cahill," he said.

Arsenal's Carlos Vela is one man who could be destined to move between the two clubs, although the deal is yet to progress beyond Bolton's initial approach. "Arsenal have got some big games coming up, so I would think probably it will be towards the end of the month before Arsenal make a decision over where Vela is best suited to go," Coyle said.

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