BOLTON Wanderers have made contact with Oldham about a potential return for David Wheater, The Bolton News understands.

No deal has been agreed for the 32-year-old however with the League Two Latics keen to keep hold of a player seen as a key figure by boss Dino Maamria.

The centre half ended his long association with the Whites in the summer and was snapped up by Oldham.  

He was quickly installed as Boundary Park captain and has six months remaining on the one-year deal he signed in August with Oldham having a further 12-month option in the summer.

Wheater has scored three goals in 23 appearances for Latics.  

Keith Hill is looking to bolster a Bolton squad already hit by the departure of loanee Thibaud Verlinden back to parent club Stoke.

Several other loans and short-term contracts also expire this month with the Whites boss looking to put together a squad that can pull off a great escape in League One in the second half of the campaign.