WANDERERS may sense a breakthrough in their bid to land Aston Villa defender Zat Knight.

The club have been forced to keep their powder dry in recent weeks, waiting for Martin O’Neill to find at least one suitable replacement at centre-half in order to make their move.

But sources in the Midlands claim the Irishman is close to sealing a deal for Portsmouth’s Sylvain Distin– which will give incentive to the Whites to mount their bid, expected to top £3million.

Gary Megson wants another experienced central defender in his ranks, having juggled Andy O’Brien, Danny Shittu and ex-loanee Sebastien Puygrenier alongside regular Gary Cahill last season.

And he wants to recruit the man whose arrival at Villa Park convinced Cahill to quit the Midlands for Bolton in January 2008.

Knight has signalled his intention to fight for his place but O’Neill has been widely tipped to clear the decks this summer, leaving players such as Steve Sidwell and Nicky Shorey also questioning their future.

He is also a close friend of new signing Sean Davis, coming through the ranks at Fulham at the same time as the 29-year-old midfielder.