Bruce will let players leave
Steve Bruce admits there could be players leaving Latics before the start of the season despite being 'greedy' and wanting to keep most of the current squad together.
Striker Marlon King, on target with the opening goal in the 6-0 win at Barnsley on Tuesday, is negotiating a 3m move to Hull City.
And David Cotterill, Ryan Taylor and Michael Brown have also been linked with exits from the JJB Stadium as the transfer market hots up after a slow summer.
Much of Bruce's energies have been taken up with incoming deals, with five new signings arriving.
But he knows departures are inevitable as he creates room in the squad and, to some extent, tries to balance the books.
Bruce told the Evening Post: "The competition for places is great, and we need that in the Premier League.
"When it comes to possibly selling players, you can never say never, although us managers are greedy and you never really like to let anyone go.
"Sometimes you accept an offer which is good for the club and the player, but I hope not to be doing that too often."
Ideally, Bruce wants to work with a first-team squad of 24, including three goalkeepers, and currently has 27 players on the staff.
That squad includes young Polish midfielder Tomasz Kupisz who has caught his manager's eye this summer and Lewis Montrose, in his second year as a professional.
Rachid Bouaouzan is among that number too, yet the Dutch winger has not made the first team in nearly a year at Wigan.
He's a player Bruce will let go – Bouaouzan is so far out of the picture that he didn't travel to Austria for the pre-season training camp.
Click next page for more ...Latics did accept Hull's bid for King nearly a fortnight ago and he has agreed personal terms.
But the deal continues to be held up by the striker's demand for a severance payment from Wigan to cover the drop in wages he'll have to take.
Bruce played him at Barnsley because if the deal does fall through, he's happy to have him in the squad and wants King to regain his match fitness.
Hull remain confident they will do the deal, although the matter won't be able to drag on for too much longer.
The Premier League newcomers have also been linked with a 700,000 move for Taylor but have denied any interest.
As for Cotterill, Sheffield United appear to be running out of patience in their summer-long chase for the winger.
They want to sign the Wales international after he impressed while on loan last season but haven't been able to negotiate a fee.
Blades boss Kevin Blackwell said: "We are struggling to get the deal going."
He's also denied an interest in Brown, who Bruce has no intention of selling despite the arrival of Lee Cattermole.
Blackwell added: "No, we haven't had a dabble with Michael.
"He's a Premier League player on big, big wages."
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Thursday 02 September 2010
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