Wigan head to Austria without N´Zogbia

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has confirmed unsettled winger Charles N’Zogbia will not join the team on their pre-season trip to Austria.

Frenchman N’Zogbia is reportedly agitating for a move away from the DW Stadium and his exclusion from the training camp appears to be a further indication of his likely departure.

The 25-year-old, who joined Wigan from Newcastle United in 2009, was close to joining Birmingham City last season, but failed to agree personal terms with the club.

“The team have gone to Austria today but ‘Zoggy’ (N’Zogbia) hasn’t gone,” Whelan told Sky Sports News.

“He is a great lad to have around the club. If we do lose him, and we may well do because he has expressed a desire to move on, we will miss him enormously.”

“But he is a great asset for any football club who wants him.”

Aston Villa, who sold winger Stewart Downing to Liverpool for a reported fee of 20 million pounds earlier this month, are rumoured to be one of the clubs in the hunt for N’Zogbia’s signature.

And Whelan believes the price Liverpool paid for Downing makes one of Wigan’s prized assets inexpensive by comparison.

“I have always said for 10 million pounds he is an absolute snip, if Stewart Downing can change hands for 20 million pounds I don’t know what Charles is worth,” Whelan said.

“He is the fastest, most direct wide player in the Premier League and I have always asked for 10 million pounds and hopefully we will get it and he will move on and be happy.”