Source: SKY_Sports
Martinez heading to Wigan
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan is certain that Roberto Martinez will be confirmed as the club's new manager in the next 24 hours.
The Latics have been given permission to open talks with the Swansea boss to fill their hotseat following the departure of Steve Bruce to Sunderland.
Liberty Stadium supremo Huw Jenkins granted Wigan's request to approach their highly-rated manager once a settlement package, believed to be in the region of £2million was agreed.
Former Latics favourite Martinez, one of the club's famed 'Three Amigos', is now set to hold talks with chief executive Brenda Spencer to finalise his switch to the Premier League side.
Whelan told Sky Sports News: "I think it will be a done deal, definitely, by this time tomorrow. It's just a case of Roberto meeting our chief executive and getting the deal signed off.
"We've now been given permission by Swansea to speak to Roberto, our chief executive Brenda Spencer is talking to him this afternoon and hopefully the deal will all be concluded by tomorrow morning.
"I think the chairman at Swansea has realised that football is a cruel game. Sometimes you don't want to lose a manager - I didn't want to lose Steve Bruce but things move on.
"I am delighted, and I know the whole of Wigan will be excited to think we are getting one of the 'Three Amigos' back again."
Whelan confirmed the Spaniard was his top choice for the post on Wednesday and is confident that he will use the extensive contacts in his homeland to bring new faces to the newly-named DW Stadium.
He said: "I've watched his career and he produces players on the park who play football from back to front. I like what I've seen and I'm really excited we've got Roberto back to Wigan.
"He understands the Spanish league fantastically well, and I suspect he will be bringing one or two Spanish lads back in to Wigan.
"We have some money that is required to replace players and Roberto will be given the funds to replace the players that we need."
Whelan's main target for the coming season is again for Wigan to retain their Premier League status and remain part of England's elite.
He also expects Martinez to bring in a number of his own backroom staff from Wigan after Bruce was joined at the Black Cats by Eric Black, Nigel Spink and Keith Bertschin.
He added: "The priority at Wigan is always the same, you've got to stay in the Premier League. We, along with 10 or 11 other teams, our number one priority is to stay in the league and that is exactly what I will tell Roberto.
"Steve has taken quite a lot of our staff with him, which they always do, we understand that.
"I expect Roberto will be bringing two, three or four of his staff with him, but that will all be agreed by tomorrow evening."
