Wigan confident of Webster deal

Paul Jewell's outfit are still waiting to hear back from Fifa as the 24-year-old has invoked a new ruling.

The governing body now allows players in the third year of a four-year deal to join a club in another country.

A Wigan spokesman told BBC Sport: "If it was a straightforward transfer, the deal would be done."

He believes that, once Fifa give them clearance, Webster will move to the JJB Stadium.

Webster, who handed in his notice at Hearts at the end of last season, has already met twice with Wigan.

But agent Charlie Duddy has told BBC Sport that Mark Hughes' side are keen on talking to the player.

Webster refused to extend his Hearts contract and he was frozen out for the latter part of last season, 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 comply with the Fifa loophole.

A Fifa tribunal would have to decide on a transfer fee, but the rules suggest that Hearts would only receive the player's annual wage by way of compensation.

Taken from the BBC