Wanted man: Valencia is certain to leave Wigan at
the end of the season
Steve Bruce has thrashed out a £21.5million deal with
Real Madrid for Antonio Valencia - but challenged Sir Alex Ferguson
to match the valuation if he wants the Wigan
winger.
Valencia, 23, is seen by
Manchester United as a
potential replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo and he has been tracked
by a number of suitors.
Aston Villa and
Tottenham had asked to be
kept informed but, with the two biggest clubs in the world going
head-to-head, it seems they are out of the running.
Wigan boss Bruce has been negotiating with Madrid for a few
months but this is the first time details of the fee - an £18m
downpayment and a further £3.5m in add-ons - have been
released.
Bruce hinted a deal was afoot after Saturday's 2-0 defeat at
Stoke, when he said: 'It's inevitable that Valencia will
go but we'll get good money for him.'
A move to United would give Ferguson cover if Ronaldo works his
exit from the Barclays Premier League champions, but if Valencia
heads for the Spanish capital the chances of Bernabeu bosses
footing the bill for a world-record offer for Ronaldo might sharply
diminish.
The cash involved is astonishing given that Ecuador star
Valencia has played less than 50 times in the Premier League since
Paul Jewell signed him three years ago.
Bruce is keen to start team rebuilding and is therefore anxious
to resolve the Valencia issue quickly.