Bolton Set To Get Foxes Defender On Season Long Loan

There were reports earlier this month that Bolton had launched a £1.5 million bid for Leicester City defender Matt Mills. The same reports had said that the Foxes would want Bolton to pay double that in order to secure his services. However, a new report from the Bolton News suggests that Mills is set for a season-long loan deal at the Reebok and the Wanderers have a chance to buy at the end. Coupled with the earlier news that Zat Knight is staying at Bolton Wanderers for at least another year, Bolton's center of defense looks much stronger than it did even yesterday.

Mills has not had the best time at Leicester City, often struggling after his £4 million move from Reading the season before. With this loan deal, Bolton have the ability to try Mills out for a whole season and if he does well, Bolton will be able to sign him for half Leicester's asking price next summer.

Despite being only 25 years old, Mills has been present in the English Championship for nine years now. Born in Leicester, he started his youth career off with Southampton before signing a professional contract with them from 2003 to 2006, making only 4 appearances for the Saints. Mills spent time on loan at Coventry City and Bournemouth, combining for 16 appearances and 3 goals in that time.

He then made a move to Manchester City where he stayed for two years, appearing only twice for them. Again, he was sent out on loan, this time to Colchester United and Doncaster Rovers from 2007 to 2008. He made 46 appearances for those two clubs and added another 3 goals to his career tally. Mills then signed a deal with Doncaster and stayed there for a season.

From 2009 to 2011, Matt Mills was a staple of the Championship Reading side that reached the quarter final of the FA Cup and the semi-final of the Championship playoff. Reading lost the FA Cup match 1-0 to Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium and the Championship playoff match 4-2 to Swansea who ended up with promotion.

Mills moved to Leicester City at the start of the 2011-2012 season after he was purchased from Reading. There, he was re-united with former Manchester City manger Sven-Göran Eriksson (ahh well).