MATT Mills’ move to Wanderers was placed in some doubt last night after it emerged the defender was struggling to sever ties with Leicester City.

It had been expected that the 25-year-old would soon be signing a season-long loan at the Reebok, with a view to a £2million permanent deal next summer.

Mills had agreed terms in principle with the Whites and was poised to meet Owen Coyle this week but the matter had been placed on temporary hold while he negotiated an ‘exit deal’ at his club.

It now appears those talks have collapsed – effectively leaving him in limbo at the King Power Stadium and unable to move on.

Wanderers are hopeful that the situation will be resolved but their optimism is not being shared in the East Midlands, where sources close to the player claimed yesterday that the deal had broken down and that he had been told to return for pre-season training with Nigel Pearson’s squad next month.

It seems doubtful that Mills could have a future under Pearson after a high profile dispute at the start of the year that resulted in him being dropped from the Foxes team for the final three months of the season.

Leicester are trying desperately to trim down a large squad assembled by Sven-Goran Eriksson and could ship 20 players this summer to fund incoming transfers.

But after spending £4million on Mills from Reading last summer and agreeing to lose him for half that fee to Wanderers, the club are unwilling to part with extra cash to speed up the deal.

The Whites can breathe a little easier in regards to their other immediate transfer target, Keith Andrews, who it is hoped will be revealed as Owen Coyle’s first summer signing later this week.

The Irish midfielder is finalising terms with the club after leaving West Brom and has rejected overtures from Celtic, Huddersfield Town and Sunderland to sign a two-year deal.