Wigan Athletic Football Club News

• Nickname:Latics
• Founded:1932
• Manager:Roberto Martinez

• Ground:JJB Stadium
• Capacity:25,000

Latics keen on Koumas

02 Jul 2007 - 13:12:43

Click To Enlarge

Wigan Athletic manager Chris Hutchings has joined the race to sign West Brom midfielder Jason Koumas.

The Wales international has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs following the Baggies' failure to win promotion to the top-flight last season.

Fulham had a £5million bid rejected for both Koumas and team-mate Diomansy Kamara last month, while Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers are also both believed to be interested in signing the 27-year-old former Tranmere Rovers playmaker.

"We made a substantial bid for Jason Koumas which was rejected but our efforts are still alive," admitted Hutchings.

"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."

Meanwhile, Hutchings has reiterated his desire to keep highly-rated defender Leighton Baines at the JJB Stadium.

Everton and Sunderland have been linked with £6million moves for the England Under-21 left-back, who starred during the recent European Championship in the Netherlands.

"He is an important figure in our present and future plans and I am not planning to sell him," added the Latics chief.