WANDERERS have made enquiries about Kilmarnock winger Danny Armstrong, the Bolton News understands.

The 26-year-old is one of several players of interest to Ian Evatt as he attempts to strengthen his squad this summer for a tilt at promotion from League One.

Armstrong scored 10 goals in 47 appearances for Kille last season as they qualified for Europe with a fourth-placed finish in the Scottish Premiership but the club’s attempts to extend his contract beyond next summer have proven unsuccessful.

Reports yesterday claimed that two Bolton bids of circa £400,000 have already been rejected, although we have learned that negotiations may not yet have reached the bidding stage and that the numbers quoted in the national press are considerably higher than those discussed between the two parties.

Wanderers are monitoring the former Wolves trainee, however, in what could prove to be a tactical departure for Evatt and his coaching staff.

Armstrong has played the vast majority of his football in his career as an orthodox right winger but has operated in most attacking positions, as a wing-back, and even briefly as a left-sided full-back at Raith Rovers.

Bolton’s width came almost exclusively from their wing-backs last season, and some have speculated that interest in the versatile Taunton-born attacker could be a hint towards the tactical flexibility that Evatt has discussed in his plans for next season.

Wanderers are working hard to bring in at least one new signing before the weekend but even if a firm bid is made for Armstrong, Kilmarnock have made it clear that they want him to stay.

As recently as last week, manager Derek McInnes said his club had been working for some time to agree a longer contract with one of his most highly rated assets and were now hoping that the lure of continental football would be enough for him remain at Rugby Park.

He said: “It's ongoing. What we have been better at recently is to secure players longer term and get a wee bit more stability, more security and certainty about things. Year in, year out, making wholesale changes isn't a good thing for a club. On the back of last season, we wanted to try to retain the core of what we had.

“So even boys who are into their last year, we are constantly trying to look at getting these boys tied down. Danny is a case in point. We've been trying for the last six or seven months to get an agreement where he can sign a bit longer. The reality is it is going to be difficult to do that but these things are ongoing.

“You are trying to keep good players within the club as well as trying to attract good players from outwith. It's a constant battle but while the players are with us, like Danny, he's got a lot to offer and we don't want to just let people walk out of the door cheap. He's such a key player for us.

“We've got Europe to look forward to, but we see the importance of trying to get that longer-term stability for our players."