Former manager Steve Bruce assembled a squad of hard-working professionals while players like Antonio Valencia added the flair. But chairman Dave Whelan is willing to let the player leave at the right price.

The Ecuador winger's future is likely to be decided next week as he returns from holiday at the weekend.

Martinez knows he has to scour the transfer market to find players able to give his side a cutting edge, while maintaining the resilience which served Wigan so well under Bruce.

The Spaniard said: "The hardest thing in football is to be unpredictable, and be able to have different ways of approaching games.

"That's why we need to sign players who are a little bit different to what we already have - bearing in mind what we have already got is very strong and very talented."