Wigan chasing Raul
Dave Whelan says Latics are 'working hard' to bring in new blood, but warned it may take time to reshape the squad.
The Wigan chairman has already made inroads into the 'priority list' handed to him by Roberto Martinez, shelling out 1.7m on top target Jordi Gomez within days of the new manager taking office.
However, while the club are actively seeking other names on the list, Whelan has warned other deals may take some time.
He told the Evening Post last night: "We got our priority list from Roberto, and we are working hard on it.
"Jordi Gomez was right at the top and we moved very quickly on that, and we are moving on others as well.
"But there are a lot of players away on holiday – and I think the market will only rev up in about a week or 10 days."
Several players from La Liga have been tipped to follow Gomez to Wigan, perhaps the most intriguing being his former Espanyol team-mate Raul Tamudo.
The Spanish striker is a proven goalscorer in La Liga and, at the age of 31 and entering the final year of his contract, is believed to fancy a move to England.
Birmingham, Portsmouth, Sunderland, Bolton, and Wolves are believed to be battling for his signature, with a fee of 2.5m being mentioned –
easily within Wigan's budget.
Rumours also abound that Almeria winger Albert Crusat and Rayo Vallecano's Mohamed Diame are interesting Martinez, who has retained a close interest in Spanish football since moving to England 14 years ago.
Whelan said: "Roberto lives for football, and his knowledge of the Spanish league is unbelievable.
"He knows all the players – how they play, where they play – he has just got it.
"His knowledge of football is immense – he is just an amazing lad.
"He has already watched every game we have played in the past three years."
A prominent name on the priority list is understood to be Hendry Thomas, the Honduras international who agreed a move to Wigan last year only to see red tape scupper the deal.
It is believed the Olimpia midfielder now fulfils all the necessary criteria, and Wigan will try again for the former club-mate of Wilson Palacios this summer.
One man not coming, however, is Middlesbrough defender Matthew Bates, who was mentioned as a possible target but has agreed a new three-year deal at The Riverside.
Meanwhile, physio Richie Evans has become the latest Swansea City employee to make the move up to Wigan.
Evans follows Roberto Martinez, Graeme Jones and Kevin Reeves to the North West after 10 years with the Swans.
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Weather for Wigan
Friday 10 February 2012
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