Wigan determined not to lose N'Zogbia
Roberto Martinez has dismissed reports that Wigan are considering selling Charles N'Zogbia, who has been linked with both Liverpool and Sunderland this month.
The former Newcastle wide man is the Latics' second highest goalscorer this season and the one-time France international has never made any secret of how he views the Premier League strugglers, previously describing them as a stepping stone in his career.
Chairman Dave Whelan admitted last week that he would never prevent a player from moving to a bigger club and confirmed that he had promised the 24-year-old that he will be allowed to leave if a top-six side make a fair offer, a statement which is hardly a revelation given that they accepted a bid from Birmingham in August, only for N'Zogbia to snub the Blues.
When asked about the rumoured interest in the winger, Martinez attempted to turn the gossip into a positive for Wigan by saying: "It's speculation, but it's positive. When you go into a game on the back of a defeat and you read someone wants you, it's a great lift.
"To get such a compliment, it can only help you as a player and the football club as a whole. But we're not here to try to find business, we don't need to sell players to balance our books, and that's always our position."
Wigan are third bottom in the Premier League and just a point from safety yet bottom team West Ham's draw at Everton has seen Martinez's men take over as [1.62] favourites to be relegated in their sixth successive top-flight campaign.
Think the Latics will survive again? They can be laid for the drop at [1.66]...
Published: 24 Jan 2011
Comment on this rumour - or post a rumour you've heard