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Martinez: We must strengthen squad
Roberto Martinez admits the Latics squad is light at present – but feels it's impossible for clubs in the modern game to avoid reliance on certain key players.
Latics were rocked last month when Maynor Figueroa damaged knee ligaments at Burnley, while the recent jailing and subsequent
sacking of Marlon King has left them a striker short.
Martinez says Latics will be looking to do business when the transfer window opens in January.
But, just like he did in the summer, the Wigan manager will be anxious to spend his cash as wisely as possible to maximise value for money.
Former England international defender Michael Ball, who has been without a club since leaving Manchester City in the summer, has been training with Latics this week.
The rumour mill has also thrown up the names of St Johnstone's Collin Samuel, Belgian striker Moussa Dembele and right-back Johnny Palacios, younger brother of Wilson, as possible targets.
Martinez told the Evening Post: "We need to strengthen, as we have lost a player and cannot leave ourselves open.
"We know our budget, the money we have to spend – but it is not just about that.
"It is about finding the right players and personalities. We will work on different markets to try to make things happen."
The loss of the pair has left a sizeable dent in the squad, with Latics now left with just two recognised strikers in Hugo Rodallega and Jason Scotland, as well as a key defender down.
However, Martinez pointed to some of the biggest clubs in world football as proof that the days of running a massive squad with players of a similar value have, in the main, gone.
"At the moment, I think it is a big problem in modern football, with the way budgets are, and it is affecting every team," he said.
"If you take Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi and Xavi out of the Barcelona team, they are not the same side.
"It is the same with Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres at Liverpool.
"And we are the same. If we are missing two or three players, we are going to be affected.
"It's something that doesn't concern me, but it's something we need to look to address over the next two or three years, and come up with a stronger structure."
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Weather for Wigan
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 14 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: West
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Temperature: 11 C to 25 C
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