DW Stadium bid for Ecuadorian turned down.
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Wigan failed with a transfer window swoop for Ecuadorian winger Jefferson Montero after having an offer to take him on loan turned down.
Manager Roberto Martinez was keen to sign the 23-year-old wideman from Mexican side Monarcas Morelia and take him to the DW Stadium for the remainder of the season. Wigan had turned to Montero after being priced out of the market for Spartak Moscow’s £5million-rated Aidan McGeady.
But the loan offer for Montero was rejected by Monarcas Morelia, who wanted a £3million permanent transfer offer.
“Five days ago we had been approached asking for the player,” Monarcas Morelia sporting director Ramon Heriberto Morales is quoted as saying by Sportinglife. “We spoke with him, he knew about it, but the offer wasn’t good. We thanked Wigan but we decided not to accept it, and that’s all. Then, there wasn’t a new proposal.”
Martinez wanted Montero to help the club avoid relegation from the Premier League and fancied the winger to be another South American hit at the club, following on from the likes of fellow Ecuadorian Antonio Valencia, Wilson Palacios and Antolin Alcaraz amongst others.
Montero had previously played in the Ecuadorian league before moving to Villarreal in Spain and having loan spells at Levante and Real Betis. It was during his time in La Liga that Spaniard Martinez noticed Montero’s talent.
Martinez brought in three new faces in the transfer window with Honduran midfielder Roger Espinoza joining, Manchester United striker Angelo Henriquez signing on loan and goalkeeper Joel Robles arriving on loan from Atletico Madrid.