Martinez: Priority list

We have already made a bid for one player, which I think has been accepted, so we are on the case.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan admits the club have already moved for one of new manager Roberto Martinez's transfer targets.

The Spaniard was confirmed as Latics boss on Monday after a protracted saga involving compensation owed to former employers Swansea.

Martinez has now taken the reins at the DW Stadium and is looking forward to testing himself in the Premier League.

In order to ensure that Wigan remain competitive in the top flight, new recruits will be essential.

With that in mind, Martinez has already informed the club of those players he would like to bring in this summer.

Whelan has agreed to back his manager to the hilt and has revealed that an approach has already been made for a Spanish-based player - rumoured to be Espanyol's Jordi Gomez, who spent last season on loan at Swansea.

"I asked him (Martinez) on Saturday for a priority list of players and he gave us four priorities," Whelan told Sky Sports News.

"We have already made a bid for one, which I think has been accepted, so we are on the case. It's a player from the Spanish league.

"I have promised Roberto that we will back him right down the line, so we have got an exciting season coming up that's for sure."

Whelan has also identified the areas Wigan will be looking to strengthen over the course of the next few months.

"When you look at Wigan, we need another striker, that's for sure, we need a couple in midfielder and then it depends on whether Antonio Valencia goes," he added.

"We don't want to sell him, it's the big clubs that are chasing him that are offering fantastic money for the lad and I don't want to stop a player with his ability from playing with one of the top six clubs in the world.

"I don't want to sell him, but if Antonio Valencia goes, which he could do in the next fortnight, it creates a problem on the right for us because he's going to be so difficult to replace."

Valencia is known to be attracting interest from Real Madrid and Manchester United, but Whelan has revealed that an anonymous third club have entered the race for the Ecuadorian winger.

"We have got three clubs vying to buy him," he said. "We are just going to sit on the fence because, whatever we think, it depends on where the player wants to go.

"There is no use us thinking we will sell him to Real Madrid or Manchester United, because it depends on the player and the advice his agent gives him.

"If he wants to stay, though, I'm delighted. If nothing happens and he stays I will be over the moon, and the supporters will be."