Wellington Phoenix have confirmed they are in discussions with New Zealand defender Michael Boxall.
Reports suggest the 23-year-old centre-back had been offered a two-year deal with the A-League club.
But a Phoenix spokesman said nothing had been ‘signed or sealed’ as yet.
Boxall, who made his All Whites debut against China last year, was released by MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps last month following their signing of Scottish international Barry Robson.
Teams are only allowed 10 foreign players and Robson’s arrival took the club above that quota.
Boxall made 19 appearances for the MLS outfit in his first season but had slipped down the pecking order under coach Martin Rennie this season and had been playing in the MLS reserve grade.
The strapping defender, who was born in Auckland, made his seventh and most recent appearance for the All Whites in their 4-3 win against the Solomon Islands at the Oceania Nations Cup.
A move to the Phoenix, who are coached by All Whites boss Ricki Herbert, would see Boxall competing against the ever-present defensive duo of Wellington skipper Andrew Durante and Ben Sigmund for a starting spot.
