Bruce vows to re-invest Valencia funds

22 May 2009 12:59
Wigan manager Steve Bruce has pledged to use money from the summer sale of winger Antonio Valencia to strengthen his squad for next season. Bruce has been resigned to losing one of his most saleable assets for some time now but he expressed surprise at a reported ¦pound;21million transfer fee, which Real Madrid are reportedly ready to pay. Manchester United and Bayern Munich are also among the teams being linked with the 23-year-old. "Valencia's sale is inevitable. When you have five or six of the biggest clubs in the world after you it is very difficult for us to stand in the boy's way," he said. "We will see what develops over the next few weeks - but I don't know where they get the ¦pound;21million from." He added: "He has done fantastically well and if we do get big money for him the one thing we will try to do is reinvest it back in the squad and try to make it stronger and better if we can. "No-one wants to lose their best players but we are realistic here. It is always a problem; it was a problem in January which I tried to fight off before I came to the conclusion I was swimming against the tide. "We've got it again with Antonio but it is what it is, we understand we are Wigan and to make us bigger and better it is what we have to do. "I don't think it affects the rest of the squad. The kid has had an outstanding season and an outstanding season last year. "He has made himself one of the best right-sided players in the Premier League and with that comes a premium. "He is 23 and although there is frustration as a manager you don't want to lose your top players but sometimes it has to be."

Source: Eurosport