Martinez hopeful over Al Habsi

Last updated : 16 June 2011 By Team Talk

Al Habsi impressed on loan at Wigan last season and the Latics have already made a ?3million bid for the Oman international.

However, reports suggest Bolton want ?5million for the keeper, who has recently expressed his determination to be playing first-team football again next season.

Latics boss Martinez acknowledged it has not been an easy deal to work on, but will not give up hope of having Al Habsi in his plans again.

"At the moment, there is nothing to report, but we remain hopeful of doing the deal," Martinez told the Evening Post. "The problem is this is a three-way situation, and that means things haven't been easy.

"We've been talking with Bolton and also with Ali for some time, and we've been very open about what we have been trying to do.

"I suspect one way or another we'll find out very, very soon which way it'll go. But it's too early to be saying any more than that, because the talks are at such a delicate stage.

"Obviously it's in the best interests of all parties to come to a resolution as soon as possible, and we hope that is the case.

"When you are talking about a player like Ali, you need to do everything you can to keep him at the football club. But in this situation, when he is not under contract to us, things are not totally in our hands.

"Our priority of course would be to keep Ali, but if we have to move for another player in that position then that's what we'll do.

"Ali has made it clear he'd love to carry on his time with us, and we'd love to keep him, but we'll have to wait and see."

Source: Team Talk

Source: Team Talk