Gillingham captain Kyle Dempsey is being eyed up by Bolton Wanderers according to reports.

The 26-year-old is nearing a return to action following over a month out injured but wasn’t risked on Saturday against Ipswich Town, taken off the bench before kick-off after the player felt a tightness to his hamstring.

Bolton sit 17th in League 1 but have a decent budget, recently paying Accrington good money for their striker Dion Charles.

Dempsey has been with the Gills for the past two seasons and has made 57 league appearances, scoring nine goals.

He has links to Bolton as he has previously worked with the club's technical performance director, Chris Markham, when he played for Huddersfield.

Former boss Steve Evans last week revealed Dempsey was one of three players to have attracted bids in the January transfer window, but the club’s valuation hadn’t been met. It’s believed a second bid for the former Fleetwood player has been tabled.

Dempsey is understood to be out of contract in the summer and free to walk away for nothing. Gillingham have previously turned down a £100,000 offer from Charlton Athletic for the midfielder.

Prior to signing for the Gills, Dempsey had spent several seasons at Fleetwood. He started his career with Carlisle and his family live in Cumbria meaning a return to the northwest would be an ideal move.