Wigan Athletic boss Steve Bruce is chasing Middlesbrough utility Matthew Bates.
The Mirror says Bates is helping Boro in their fight for Premier League survival, but is out of contract in the summer and can go for nothing.
He has battled back from a couple of bad knee injuries and proved his worth as a right-back or midfielder.
Bruce is looking to bolster his squad and is keen on keeping an English element in his multi-national line-up.
Everton and West Ham are also keeping tabs on Bates, but Latics think they have a big chance because of the presence of Boro old boy Lee Cattermole.