:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/16229357/143338250.0.jpg)
It is widely reported that Championship rivals Middlesbrough are in the market for a central defender. Earlier reports saw the Teessiders heavily linked with Wanderers USA defender Tim Ream. The player's agent confirmed that the interest had existed but that it was now dead.
The attention now appears to have switched to David Wheater with numerous outlets, including The Daily Star, having reported an inquiry from former West Brom & Celtic boss, Tony Mowbray, regarding the former Boro captain and product of their highly-acclaimed youth system. Mowbray has since refuted the interest, talking to local newspaper, The Gazette:
"I don't know anything about that, I don't know where that's come from.
The reality of that is it doesn't fit in with where we are as a football club at the moment knowing what David was on salary-wise when he left us to what he would be going to at a Premier League club.
To come back to us, I can't see how that can happen and it's not something we've considered."
Wheater, signed by Wanderers in 2011 for an undisclosed fee from 'boro, is highly regarded in Cleveland having made 140 appearances for Boro, scoring 9 goals. He also was named captain of the club at just 22.
Bolton have responded to the interest by opening up talks for a new contract as the central defender appears to be key to Freedman's plans in another promotion push. After recovering from a lengthy lay-off which saw the defender miss the majority of last season, Wheater is the choice of many supporters, myself included, to become the Whites' skipper following the recent departure of club legend Kevin Davies.