Source: Daily_Mail
Wigan hope to snatch Ben Watson as £2m Crystal Palace midfielder opens talks with Boro
Wigan boss Steve Bruce is looking to snatch Crystal Palace midfielder Ben Watson from Middlesbrough's grasp as the Teesside club stall over his £2million move. Tug-of-war: Crystal Palace midfielder Ben WatsonMiddlesbrough are balking at Watson's wage demands after more than 24 hours of talks since Neil Warnock agreed to sell the England Under 21 star.Watson was at Middlesbrough's training ground with his agent, and opened talks after a medical. Boro boss Gareth Southgate looked confident about making his second transfer window signing, but talks between the parties have so far proved fruitless.Fulham and Reading have both indicated their interest in matching the fee Boro agreed earlier in the week, but they too have questioned Watson's personal valuation of his services, which are understood to be over £25,000-a-week.Watson is out of contract in the summer and is looking for a deal which would match his valuation as a free agent, but cash-strapped Middlesbrough are refusing to cave in.That leaves Bruce clear to take the 23-year-old London-born midfielder to the JJB Stadium. The Wigan boss is armed with £14million from Wilson Palacios's move to Tottenham and is looking for numbers to bolster his squad before the end of January. Wigan spending their profits: Bruce set to add new faces after filling pocketsVilla set to unveil Heskey after agreeing £4m deal for England striker with WiganWigan in Hunt for Palacios replacement after agreeing £5m fee for Reading starWIGAN ATHLETIC FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET