QPR's (Wigan's!) Ben Watson Returning to Wigan: Other Clubs Interested

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re Ben Watson - Wigan Today - 29 December 2009 By Paul Kendrick

- Latics midfielder Ben Watson's future will be decided within the next few weeks, according to boss Roberto Martinez.
- The former Crystal Palace player has spent the first part of the season on loan at QPR and with that agreement about to expire, the Latics manager admitted that other clubs have announced interest in taking the 24-year old.
- "We're going to speak with Ben as soon as his loan finishes and we'll decide how he feels about the whole situation," Martinez told the Evening Post.
- "We had a few other clubs that approached us with the idea of having Ben.
- "The most important thing is to see how he has developed since he has been at QPR and we'll make a decision then." - Watson joined the club last January but fell out of favour when Martinez replaced Steve Bruce in the summer.
- Despite remaining adamant that his key players would not be leaving the club, the Spaniard did admit that he would be sympathetic to any requests from out-of-favour players wanting to play more first-team football.
- "It's always a possibility in any squad," he added.
"You always get players who want to play every week and sometimes they feel like they need a fresh challenge.
- "I'm delighted that we don't have to sell players to balance the books – that's the best news for our fans. If there is any movement, it will be for the good of Wigan Athletic.
- "If we let players go, it will be to let them have a fresh start elsewhere, not because we have to weaken our squad...."
- Although the general focus of the transfer window with regard to Latics is players leaving, Martinez insists that all he is interested in is strengthening.
He added: "It is important in January that we help the players that we have already got in with a couple of new faces that can help us in
bringing a different dimension in our play.
"All sides get one or two injuries and in the second half of the campaign you normally get suspensions.
"We need to make sure we are as strong as we can be." Wigan Today

- Flashback: Ben Watson Joins QPR: What QPR and Wigan Said QPR: "... deal until December 31st, although the R's do have the option of extending the deal when the January transfer window opens" and "The Wigan man has penned an initial four month loan at Loftus Road, but Rangers have the option of extending that deal once the January transfer window opens in 2010"