Burnley manager Owen Coyle is reportedly lining up a swoop for Celtic defender Gary Caldwell in the January transfer window.

Coyle is keen to link Caldwell up with his brother Stephen at the heart of his Clarets defence, which currently has the second worst goal difference in the Premier League.

Turf Moor boss Coyle is looking to take advantage of a contract dispute between the 27-year-old and the Bhoys, with Caldwell refusing to extend his current deal at Parkhead, which expires next summer, unless his wages are doubled.

The defender’s wages do not match that of star players Aiden McGeady and goalkeeper Artur Boruc and Caldwell may be forced to move to the Premier League to get the money he feels he deserves.

Caldwell admitted his frustration to the News of the World: "I have had talks with Tony Mowbray, but I am not going to reveal what I said.

"However, I can say there have been no new developments concerning my contract."

If contract negotiations remain at a standstill, Coyle will come in with a cut-price bid in January which the SPL side may be forced to accept the bid to avoid risking losing the Scotland international on a free transfer in the summer.

The centre-back started his career at Newcastle before impressing after signing for Hibernian in 2004, and has been capped over 30 times for Scotland.