The centre-back left the Riverside Stadium for Bolton in 2011, but he has made just 35 appearances since joining the Trotters.
According to Sky Sports News, contact has been made between the two parties, although it is not yet clear whether the player is interested in re-joining his former team.
Wheater made just short of 150 league appearances for Middlesbrough during his seven years with the club.
Restore Data
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | |
| 1 | Sunderland | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 19 |
| 2 | Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 9 | 19 |
| 3 | Burnley | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 18 |
| 4 | West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 17 |
| 5 | Leeds UnitedLeeds | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 16 |
| 6 | Watford | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 16 |
| 7 | Norwich CityNorwich | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 15 |
| 8 | Blackburn RoversBlackburn | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 15 |
| 9 | Middlesbrough | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 14 |
| 10 | Oxford UnitedOxford Utd | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 12 |
| 11 | Swansea CitySwansea | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 12 |
| 12 | Derby CountyDerby | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 13 | Hull City | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 13 | -1 | 12 |
| 14 | Plymouth ArgylePlymouth | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 13 | -3 | 11 |
| 15 | Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 15 | -4 | 11 |
| 16 | Stoke CityStoke | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 12 | -2 | 10 |
| 17 | Bristol City | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 13 | -4 | 10 |
| 18 | Millwall | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 9 |
| 19 | Preston North EndPreston | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 12 | -5 | 9 |
| 20 | Coventry CityCoventry | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 13 | -3 | 8 |
| 21 | Luton TownLuton | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 15 | -7 | 8 |
| 22 | Queens Park RangersQPR | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 16 | -7 | 7 |
| 23 | Portsmouth | 9 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 20 | -11 | 5 |
| 24 | Cardiff CityCardiff | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 17 | -14 | 4 |
| > Championship Full Table | |||||||||
