Wigan waiting for Hearts' Webster

The 24-year-old has invoked a new Fifa ruling that allows players in the third year of a four-year contract to join a club in another country.

A Wigan spokesman said: "Andy Webster is a player we would like to sign, but it's now a case of wait-and-see."

Webster is likely to talk to other English clubs before making a decision.

Celtic, Rangers, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Moenchengladbach, Monaco, PSV Eindhoven, Rennes, Everton, Fulham and Sheffield United have all been linked with the player during the summer.

Wigan appear confident of concluding a deal by the end of the week, despite rival interest from other Premiership clubs.

And Hearts head coach Valdas Ivanauskas admits that he expects the player to leave the club soon.

Webster has been in dispute with Hearts since last season after refusing to extend his contract.

The defender was frozen out for the latter part of last season by Hearts, missing the run-in to the Scottish Premier League and their Scottish Cup final victory.

He had to hand in his notice within 15 days of the end of the season to invoke the new Fifa loophole.

And Hearts have since reported the player to Fifa and the Scottish Football Association after he failed to turn up for a flight to Austria for pre-season training.

Wigan manager Paul Jewell has confirmed that he has made fresh offers for two players over-and-above midfielder Danny Landzaat, who has completed a move from AZ Alkmaar.

Taken from the BBC