Wigan boss Steve Bruce is determined to retain the services of his key players in the transfer window.
Wigan boss facing transfer window fight
Wigan manager Steve Bruce is determined to retain the services of his leading players in the January transfer window.
England striker Emile Heskey and Ecuador winger Antonio Valencia have both been linked with moves away from the JJB Stadium in the new year.
Heskey is the final year of his contract with the Latics and would be able to leave for nothing in the summer.
Premier League rivals Aston Villa are reported to be keen on securing Heskey's services on a cut-price deal, but Bruce has vowed to do all he can to keep his squad together.
"We are building the nucleus of a very good team here, and the last thing I want to do is dismantle it," Bruce told
Wigan Today.
Circling
"The big clubs are circling around us and they are at our games every week because our young players are terrific prospects.
"My biggest job of the lot is keeping hold of them and I'll be fighting very hard to do that next month.
"I'm convinced we are on the verge of building a very good team and it is complimentary and flattering other teams are interested in my players.
"But it is also very frustrating because I don't want to lose any of them - I want to keep my best players."
Careful
And Bruce admitted that if he is able to retain the services of his key men then there may not be any new arrivals at the JJB Stadium in January.
He added: "People have made a lot of me doing business in January, but you have to be careful in the transfer window.
"It is not certain I will do anything, it depends on many things."
