Wigan Athletic have given Premier League rivals Aston Villa permission to speak to their boss Roberto Martinez.
The Spaniard is a highly-rated young manager and it seems that he has already spoken to the Midlands club.
Confident
Wigan owner Dave Whelan however is confident that the former-Latic’s star will stay with his club.
He told the Daily Telegraph: “Aston Villa have acted above board and in a totally professional manner. They wrote to me asking for permission to speak to Roberto. He was on holiday at the time and I granted Villa permission.
“He arrived back yesterday and I presume he has spoken to Villa. I have made it clear to him I will be extending his contract.
“I have never let him down on anything and he has never let me down. I know I can never say never in football, but I would be very surprised if he is Aston Villa’s new manager.”
Doubtful
I have to say if I was in Dave Whelan’s shoes I wouldn’t be so confident about losing the Spaniard. Aston Villa are a far bigger club than the Latic’s and Martinez would see it as a step up from Wigan.
Martinez has worked his way up from Swansea City to Wigan and now Villa would be a logical next step for the 37 year-old.
Ambitious
Martinez has revealed himself to be an ambitious boss in the past and a move to Aston Villa would surely prove too much of a good opportunity for him to turn down. However he could be loyal to Whelan and Wigan for giving him the chance in the top flight and also for bringing over to England as a player.
Style
Already in his short managerial career the Spaniard has shown that he likes his teams to play attractive, passing football. Even when Wigan were struggling for points last season in the Premier League his side didn’t change their style of play.
That shows that Roberto Martinez is a man who likes to stick to his football beliefs. He managed to keep the Latic’s in the top flight, despite the odds looking heavily stacked against them at points last season.
Gamble
I would say that Aston Villa appointing Roberto Martinez would be a slight gamble but I think it’s a gamble worth taking for the Villan’s. He is the sort of new exciting, forward thinking manager that Villa are crying out for.
Problems
Aston Villa as a club are full of potential but the next manager of the club will be heading into a players revolt. Key players such as Stewart Downing and Ashley Young have been linked with moves away from the Midlands and have not denied the links.
In fact if reports are to be believed Young is currently in talks with Manchester United over a move to Old Trafford. That would be a massive blow to the club as the England international is one of their top players.
Downing has been linked with moves to Tottenham and Liverpool. The winger arguably enjoyed his best season last campaign and is hoping for a big move this summer.
Finance
I think the key to Roberto Martinez’s decision on whether to take the Aston Villa job will be the sort of transfer funds Villa owner Randy Lerner offers him. If he is promised funds to spend and the fee from Ashley Young I believe he will be the next Aston Villa manager.
He will see that the club has big potential. With a few quality signings this season the club could find themselves competing for a place in the top six of the Premier League again in the near future
However if Roberto Martinez stays at Wigan I can only see another relegation battle next season. I know what I would do in the Spaniard’s position.
Should Roberto Martinez be the next Aston Villa boss?
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