Wigan Athletic swoop to land former Manchester United striker

The 26-year-old former Manchester United junior has played more than 200 games in his career – most of them in the Premier League and Championship.

He featured six times for Watford in all competitions, scoring twice, before spending the second half of last term on loan with the New York Red Bulls.

The former Manchester United junior had been expected to join fellow Championship outfit Rotherham.

In fact, Millers boss Paul Warne was confident of his signature, he spoke candidly about the situation in midweek.

“I think we are virtually there, I can't see the player not joining,” Warne said after his side’s 2-1 win over Port Vale in the Carabao Cup.

“We look pretty close, I could turn my phone on and be disappointed, I would like to think I would get my dreamboy in by the weekend.”

However, by Friday morning the goalposts had moved, with Warne's mood having also altered.

"I was really confident on Wednesday night but, prior to this conversation, I have heard Chinese whispers that he has gone somewhere else," he said in a press conference, covered by the Yorkshire Post.

"Of course it is frustrating when you don't get the players you want and you've put all the work in. It's even more frustrating when you get to the last step and it gets taken away from you.

"What can I do? I will find out the ins and outs of it.

"Of course you get frustrated, you give your heart and soul to try and sign players and give everything you can but sometimes it just isn't meant to be. You go again and move on."

It’s understood that rival club is Latics, who are looking to bolster their squad across the board before the end of the month.

After losing six players – Gavin Massey, Kell Watts, Tom Bayliss, Glen Rea, Jordan Jones and Jamie McGrath – since the end of last term, Latics have added only defender Ryan Nyambe and forward Nathan Broadhead – to their pool.