Bruce - Valencia WILL Leave in Summer

Wigan Athletic boss Steve Bruce is consigned to losing Antonio Valencia to one of Europes big boys this summer but he has already identified a replacement and working on bringing them to the club

With all the attention building around the Ecuador international it is inevitable that he will command a massive transfer fee come summer and leave for pastures new, Latics have already turned down approaches from Real Madrid and Valencia himself has said that he wanted to spend this season at the Latics before moving.

Manchester United could be one potential bidder for the 23 year old though they have made no approach yet with Valencias agent, Diego Herrera, adamant that the player is just focusing on doing his best for the Latics and that all transfer talk can wait till June, Herrera told reporters:

'I know there are a lot of rumours and Manchester United are looking, but there has been no official contact.

'The situation is that he has a contract with Wigan and, between now and the end of this season, that is all that matters.'

Back to Bruce and he is just hoping that Valencia can have a big impact in his final six months at the Latics but he is a realist and openly admits that he`ll be gone in summer, Bruce told reporters:

'It's inevitable he is leaving. There is so much interest in him - not just in this country but around the world.

'We are talking about the biggest clubs in this country and Spain and beyond.

'There was a loan deal put to us by Real Madrid but it was not acceptable. We do have someone in mind to come in, but that is five months off.'


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