Villa defender Zat Knight could be offloaded to Bolton by the end of the week – but only if the club bring in reinforcements first.

Wolves and Birmingham were both interested in the Villa defender, but the Trotters – managed by former Baggies boss Gary Megson – are at the front of the queue and are eager to swiftly tie up a deal.

But the Express & Star understands £2.5million-rated Knight will only be allowed to leave Villa Park once Martin O’Neill allays the fans’ worries by delving into the transfer market for the first time this summer.

Villa are under pressure to strengthen after losing Gareth Barry and Martin Laursen and, with Knight set to go, two new centre-backs are expected to arrive to compete with Curtis Davies and Carlos Cuellar.

Portsmouth’s Sylvain Distin, West Ham’s Matthew Upson and Sebastien Bassong of Newcastle are all in the frame.

O’Neill is also still intent on bringing in Leeds prodigy Fabian Delph, despite one bid having already been rebuffed by United boss and former Villa defender Simon Grayson.

Moves for Middlesbrough pair Stewart Downing and Tuncay remain possibilities, but Tottenham striker Darren Bent is further down the list of targets.

Any funds raised from the sale of Knight, who cost Villa £3.5m from Fulham two years ago, would be added to O’Neill’s transfer war chest.

Ironically, Knight was purchased as a replacement for Gary Cahill after O’Neill sold him to Bolton, but he could now find himself partnering the ex-Villa academy product at the Reebok Stadium.