Wigan still chasing Koumas

Premier League / Editor / 02 July 2007 / Leave a Comment

Wigan manager Chris Hutchings has confirmed he has not given up on his hopes of signing West Brom midfielder Jason Koumas.

The Latics had a £4million bid for the Wales international knocked back last week but Hutchings is determined to land his man and is ready to go back in with an improved offer.

Koumas has made no secret of his desire to play in the Premiership and Wigan are ready to fight off competition from Fulham and Birmingham for the 27-year-old's signature.

Hutchings told the Wigan Observer: "We made a substantial bid for Jason Koumas which was rejected - but our efforts are still alive.

"He is a player I'm very interested in - he has a lot of good qualities. We still have a strong interest and the situation is ongoing."

Koumas, who cost West Brom just £2.5million, is on holiday until next week and is not due to rejoin the rest of the squad for pre-season training until July 9.

Wigan have already drafted in Titus Bramble, Mario Melchiot, Antoine Sibierski, Carlo Nash and Andreas Granqvist as they try to avoid a repeat of last term, when they only avoided relegation on the last day of the season.

Punters though fear that the club is in for another dogfight as they are trading as the 2.22 second favourites for the drop, behind Derby at 1.62.

Birmingham can be backed at 2.26 to make a swift return to the Championship, with Fulham available at 2.88 and Sunderland at 4.8.

With away trips to Everton and West Ham and home games against Middlesbrough and Sunderland at the start of the season, Betfair customers are anticipating a slow start to the campaign as Hutchings' men are third favourites at 8.8 to finish August at the bottom of the table.

Reading face a daunting opening to the season with games against champions Manchester United, Chelsea, Everton and Bolton, and are fancied at 5.8 to prop up the rest, while Derby - who take on Portsmouth, Manchester City, Tottenham and Birmingham - are next best at 6.6.