Bolton Wanderers have emerged as the Premier League club chasing Town central defender Gareth McAuley. Yesterday, TWTD revealed that an unnamed top flight side had joined SPL champions Rangers in targeting the 30-year-old Northern Ireland international.

McAuley, reportedly rated at around the £2 million mark, was named Town’s Player of the Year this season after a shaky start to the campaign, forming a central defensive partnership with Damien Delaney in the latter months.

The Blues would be unlikely to resist a significant bid for their ex-skipper with boss Roy Keane appearing pleased but never entirely satisfied with his central defensive pairing.

Bolton are looking for central defensive additions with Gary Cahill expected to join one of the Premier League's bigger guns in the close season.

McAuley, who is contracted to the Blues until June 2011, joined Town from Leicester City in 2008 for £1.1 million, having previously been with Lincoln City.

Elsewhere, former loanee Liam Rosenior has been banned from driving for six months, fined £2,500 and ordered to pay costs of £85, having pleaded guilty to using a motor vehicle without third party insurance and driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence earlier this week.

Photo: Action Images

naa added 00:24 - May 13 There really are some gimps on here aren't there? Some of us get criticised if we dare to suggest RK didn't have a great season but several of you have been pretty rude about the player who was the supporters player of the year and is still very much an Ipswich player. Yes, £2M would be good money for someone with only a year left on his contract and I wouldn't blame him if he wanted to play in the Prem, especially if he reads some of the tosh people have posted on here. Anyway we need him now, not the money. Buying someone better will be highly unlikely anyway.

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ITFC1985 added 08:27 - May 13 excuse me bennyblue? did you just say that Bolton is a town near Sunderland?? i hope thats a joke......
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hype313 added 08:31 - May 13 bluenight "became known as a Titus Brambes (Shambles) in the style of rhyming slang" thanks for the insight there i was really struggling with that one.... he has been wigan's player of the season and getting plaudits from all and sundry so he hasn't done to bad and given the chioce of bramble over a mcauley it's a no brainer for me. mac has had half a half decent season, got relegated with leicester and is 30 years old, 2m lovely jubbly

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mistleyblue added 08:46 - May 13 After watching that diabolical season they are all replaceable even McAuley. Only player to keep hold of would be Wickham for potential, the rest I wouldn't be too upset to sell at the right price.
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brogansnose added 09:12 - May 13 As indicated by Slowerball- Big Mac is 30 and its probably his only chance of playing in the Premiership plus double his money. Cant see him staying which is a shame. Yes ultimately they are all replaceable but with who and how much? What do people want us to do , buy players from a lower level and gamble on them being able to cope in the CCC then become a feeder/selling club. No thanks.

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Blueknight85 added 10:53 - May 13 we got McAuley for half that price so of course he is replaceable for £2m...
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Surco72 added 11:31 - May 13 If he wants to go he will go i doubt he has a lot of loyalty for Keane after being told to find a new club earlier in the season ? The big issue is that if he does go we then need a right back ,a centre back and maybe a left back and with Keanes transfer record so far that isvery concerning and costly . Mac and Wright are both good enough to get us promotion from this league and then you look at strengthening for the Premiership when you are there,too much disruption during the summer again will have the same affect as the start of last season ,mid table finish

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osborne1nil added 16:23 - May 13 Agree with you Surco72. Would be reluctant to let Macauley go especially for £2 million. Wright has already been released so arguably we need left and right back as I feel Peters is better on the wing than defence (although he fills in well as a back up). Mac is good in there air, has started to score a few goals from corners and never shies away from a tackle. Yes he had a poor start to the season but had little help around him at the time and got stronger as the season went on. To find 3 defenders is a big ask, don't think you will easily replace Mac. Still rumours at this stage, perhaps RK has a master plan????

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