Wigan Athletic are set to finalise the signing of Ivan Ramis after the Real Mallorca defender opted against a move to West Ham United.
Martinez's influence persuades defender to snub West Ham
Wigan Athletic are set to finalise the signing of Ivan Ramis after the Real Mallorca defender opted against a move to Premier League rivals West Ham United.
The Latics had initially been favourites to sign the 27-year-old until Mallorca confirmed last weekend that a deal had been agreed with West Ham.
However, Ramis has now been persuaded to move to the DW Stadium after Wigan chairman Dave Whelan revealed Roberto Martinez's influence in the deal.
"He has passed his medical and it is being concluded," Whelan told
Wigan Today.
"It's down to the influence of Roberto because the player doesn't speak English and didn't want to go to West Ham who had already agreed a deal.
"But Roberto asked me to go out to Mallorca where I met their chairman and with the club in receivership, they accepted my offer and then I went to see the player."
Ramis had also been linked with the likes of Aston Villa, Everton, Sunderland and Celtic, and was quoted last week as saying the bid from Wigan was 'not the best offer' for him.
He should now complete his move to Martinez's side within the next 24 hours and ahead of Wigan's friendly against current club Mallorca on Sunday.
West Ham had already compensated for Ramis' snub by bringing James Collins back to Upton Park from Aston Villa on Wednesday.
