The former Nottingham Forest star was offered to Wigan recently as part of an exchange deal for full-back Pascal Chimbonda and is also a target for new Sunderland manager Niall Quinn.
Another ex-City Ground star Martin O'Neill is set to return to football as the new Aston Villa manager within the next 24 hours according to reports.
O'Neill will be partnered by long time assistant John Robertson at Villa Park.