LEICESTER City’s unsettled centre-back Matt Mills is on Owen Coyle’s radar as the Wanderers boss looks to strengthen his defensive hand for Championship football.

But the 25-year-old former Manchester City and Reading defender, who is also being tracked by Celtic, is not understood to be high on the wanted list.

Coyle has identified Mills, pictured, as a possible target, but is unlikely to follow up his interest if Zat Knight opts to stay at the Reebok.

Knight, whose current contract expires at the end of this month, has been offered a new deal and is expected to meet the manager for talks early next week.

Coyle, who released 11 players in the wake of Wanderers’ relegation from the Premier League, is understood to be focusing on three key areas as he reinforces his squad – the goalkeeping department, the centre of defence and centre midfield where he is looking for a holding player.

Leeds goalkeeper Andy Lonergan is believed to be one of the players Coyle has turned to since Jussi Jaaskelainen cut his Reebok ties last week, while 27-year-old Slovakian international Dusan Pernis, who is out of contract at Dundee United, is another keeper Coyle has been alerted to.

But the Bolton boss is unlikely to make any significant moves in the market until he returns from holiday in Florida.

Mills, who joined Leicester from Reading in a £4.25million deal last summer, could be available on loan or at a knockdown price following his well-publicised fall-out with Foxes manager Nigel Pearson in February, since when he has not featured in the first team. Celtic are known to be interested in the former Southampton trainee with reports suggesting they have proposed a swap deal which could see Hoops defender Kelvin Wilson swap Celtic Park for The King Power Stadium.