Bolton Wanderers defender keen on Whites move
YEP 14/5/13
Leeds United transfer target Matt Mills is keen on a move to Elland Road and a reunion with Whites chief Brian McDermott – who managed him at former club Reading.
Mills’ days at Bolton Wanderers look numbered, with the Lancastrians ready to sell the 26-year-old to provide boss and former United striker Dougie Freedman with cash to help fund a summer recruitment programme, with West Bromwich Albion centre-half Craig Dawson top of their shopping list.
Mills only joined the Trotters from Leicester City for an undisclosed fee – thought to be in the region of £2m – last July.
But the Swindon-born defender is expected to move onto pastures new once again, having not started a game for Freedman’s side since December 8, when he suffered a thigh injury in a 2-2 draw at Huddersfield Town – his only appearance in 2013 coming as a late sub in the reverse fixture against the Terriers in early April.
According to reports, a bid of £1m could prompt a sale.
Former United boss Neil Warnock made an abortive move to bring in Mills on loan soon after taking over in February 2012, when the big defender was out of favour at Leicester. Mills’ weekly wage packet, comfortably in excess of five figures, scuppered hopes of any business then and represent the big sticking point to a potential deal now – with the defender still having two years of his Reebok Stadium deal to run.
But Mills, according to sources close to him, is intent on reviving his career with a familiar face in McDermott, having worked under him at the Madejski Stadium during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 campaigns.
He is understood to be prepared to reject rival interest if it means he could secure a move to West Yorkshire.
Despite being signed by ex-Royals manager Brendan Rogers in the summer of 2009 from Doncaster Rovers, it was under McDermott and assistant-boss Nigel Gibbs – now together at United – that the centre-half prospered.
Mills was given a new lease of life under McDermott, who took over initially as caretaker manager in December 2009 and was a vital cog of the side who went within ninety minutes of being promoted to the Premier League, only to lose out to Swansea City in the Championship play-off final in May 2011.
That proved Mills’ last game for the Berkshire club ahead of his big-money £4.5m switch to Leicester, with the stopper penning a letter to Royals fans shortly after his move expressing his gratitude both to them and McDermott and his coaching staff.
Speaking at the time, Mills, who said that his move was prompted by a desire to play in the top-flight said: “My first few months at Reading didn’t pan out as the move I expected and wanted, but that all changed when Brian got the job and Gibbo became assistant manager.
“They gave me a new lease of life, and the opportunity and coaching they gave me has honestly made me the player I am now.”
After a stop-start past two seasons with first Leicester and now Bolton, Mills now wants to resurrect his career under McDermott at United.
Leeds United transfer target Matt Mills is keen on a move to Elland Road and a reunion with Whites chief Brian McDermott – who managed him at former club Reading.
Mills’ days at Bolton Wanderers look numbered, with the Lancastrians ready to sell the 26-year-old to provide boss and former United striker Dougie Freedman with cash to help fund a summer recruitment programme, with West Bromwich Albion centre-half Craig Dawson top of their shopping list.
Mills only joined the Trotters from Leicester City for an undisclosed fee – thought to be in the region of £2m – last July.
But the Swindon-born defender is expected to move onto pastures new once again, having not started a game for Freedman’s side since December 8, when he suffered a thigh injury in a 2-2 draw at Huddersfield Town – his only appearance in 2013 coming as a late sub in the reverse fixture against the Terriers in early April.
According to reports, a bid of £1m could prompt a sale.
Former United boss Neil Warnock made an abortive move to bring in Mills on loan soon after taking over in February 2012, when the big defender was out of favour at Leicester. Mills’ weekly wage packet, comfortably in excess of five figures, scuppered hopes of any business then and represent the big sticking point to a potential deal now – with the defender still having two years of his Reebok Stadium deal to run.
But Mills, according to sources close to him, is intent on reviving his career with a familiar face in McDermott, having worked under him at the Madejski Stadium during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 campaigns.
He is understood to be prepared to reject rival interest if it means he could secure a move to West Yorkshire.
Despite being signed by ex-Royals manager Brendan Rogers in the summer of 2009 from Doncaster Rovers, it was under McDermott and assistant-boss Nigel Gibbs – now together at United – that the centre-half prospered.
Mills was given a new lease of life under McDermott, who took over initially as caretaker manager in December 2009 and was a vital cog of the side who went within ninety minutes of being promoted to the Premier League, only to lose out to Swansea City in the Championship play-off final in May 2011.
That proved Mills’ last game for the Berkshire club ahead of his big-money £4.5m switch to Leicester, with the stopper penning a letter to Royals fans shortly after his move expressing his gratitude both to them and McDermott and his coaching staff.
Speaking at the time, Mills, who said that his move was prompted by a desire to play in the top-flight said: “My first few months at Reading didn’t pan out as the move I expected and wanted, but that all changed when Brian got the job and Gibbo became assistant manager.
“They gave me a new lease of life, and the opportunity and coaching they gave me has honestly made me the player I am now.”
After a stop-start past two seasons with first Leicester and now Bolton, Mills now wants to resurrect his career under McDermott at United.