Breen cost the Highfield Road club £2.5million from Birmingham City three years ago after spells at Maidstone, Gillingham and Peterborough United.

The deal is thought to hinge on whether Breen will be willing to drop down a division although, with Fulham on course for promotion to the Premiership, the Irishman is only likely to be playing Division One football until the end of the season.

Fulham were last week linked with a move for Rangers' Italian defender Lorenzo Amoruso and have also expressed an interest in Newcastle's Alain Goma.

Club captain Coleman was ruled out for the rest of the season after breaking his leg in three places in a car crash last week.

With a healthy seven-point advantage at the top of the division and two games in hand over their closest challengers Bolton, manager Jean Tigana is keen to find a replacement for Coleman as soon as possible in order to cement the Whites' promotion push.

But Coventry City chairman Bryan Richardson totally dismissed the notion that Breen could be on his way out of Highfield Road.

He told the club's official website: "There's absolutely no substance to that at all. He's certainly not going to be going there. We wouldn't let Gary Breen go anywhere.

"He's getting an extended run in the side and we're all delighted with his performances. He's proving what a top-class international performer he is. He's going nowhere."