Wigan agree £2.2million fee for Maynard

Wigan Athletic are in talks with Bristol City striker Nicky Maynard after the two clubs agreed a £2.2million fee for the contract rebel.

The Daily Express have confirmed that Latics boss Roberto Martinez looks to have beaten off competition from fellow strugglers Wolves, Blackburn and West Brom to sign the former Crewe Striker.

Maynard’s contract runs out in the summer and after continued attempts to get their star asset to sign a new deal failed, the former Crewe player was put up for sale.

A return of 8 goals in 25 games this campaign, comes on the back of a frustrating time for the forward the previous term when a knee injury cut short his season to just 13 appearances.

Maynard and his representatives were prepared to sit tight until the summer with a possible view to securing a sizeable signing on fee. Recent performances have dipped however in recent weeks and after being left on the bench for Saturday’s home game with Doncaster, the 25 year old appears to have decided to up sticks and focus his efforts on another relegation battle albeit a division higher.

City have confirmed that discussions to finalise a transfer fee with the Latics are at an “advanced stage” and Maynard has travelled north today to discuss personal terms.

Maynard joined Bristol City from Crewe in 2008 for a club record £2.25million. He netted 11 goals in his debut season but came into his own the following campaign, scoring 21 times in 45 games.

A number of clubs were keen to test City’s resolve during the summer with Leicester in particular alleged to have offered £5million. City, however were reticent to let Maynard go to another Championship club and the player himself clearly has designs on a stab at the Premiership.

Many city fans will of preferred to have profited from the £6m bid made by Leicester in the summer but in fairness to the club, Leicester’s was the only bid received and Maynard himself made it perfectly clear it was a club he would not entertain.

Bottom club Wigan have scored just 19 goals this term and will look to Maynard to fire them to safety with City allegedly looking to reinvest some of the cash in Swansea’a Stephen Dobbie.

A clause attached to the deal that brought Maynard to City means Crewe will claim 20% of any profit Bristol City make on the forward.

Posted by MarkG on January 25, 2012. Filed under Bristol City, FA Barclays Premiership, NPower Championship, Wigan Athletic. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.