Source: Telegraph
Manchester United face fight from Real Madrid to sign Wigan's Antonio Valencia
Wigan manager Steve Bruce admits that it is now "inevitable" the £15m-rated Valencia, who is set to face United at the JJB Stadium tonight, will be tempted away from the Lancashire club this summer.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is a long-standing admirer of the Ecuador international, but Real Madrid have also thrown their hat into the ring to sign the player by attempting to thrash out a deal during the January transfer window.
And Bruce has revealed that he expects a Real Madrid scout to watch Valencia, 23, in action against United tonight.
Bruce said: "I believe someone from Real Madrid is flying in for today's game and I've also heard the Germans have been knocking on the door too.
"Whether that is true, I don't know, but it's inevitable that Antonio will leave. Where he will go I'm not quite sure."
Bruce insists, however, that no club has yet finalised a deal to take Valencia away from the JJB.
He said: "There have been no deals done at all. I keep reading that one, but nothing's been done.
"At the end of the season, I'll sit down and have a chat with Antonio, but I know it will be difficult to keep him.
"We've then got the task of trying to unearth another one like him. We cannot buy the finished article here, we have to buy potential and work on them."
