Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has played down reports linking Charles N’Zogbia with a move away from the club.

N’Zogbia won his first cap for France earlier this month, but was a surprise exclusion from Roberto Mancini’s squad for their shock 4-0 hammering against Blackpool.

It has been claimed that the 24-year-old has fallen out with his manager and has requested a move, but Martinez insists that is not the case.

Speaking at a press conference today, Martinez said: “Charles is a Wigan Athletic player and that is the top and bottom.

“He has been working really hard and been training well. We will have to get used to speculation and rumours and we need to take it as a compliment when other clubs want to take our players.

“Unfortunately this is the instability the window brings to a club like ours.

“He will be working hard to play in every single game and that is what every player should be doing.

“Since he came back from international duty he has been training hard, working really well and fighting hard for his place with everyone else.

“It is rumour and speculation and something you are not going to stop.”

Martinez says N’Zogbia could return on Saturday as Wigan face a daunting visit from Barclays Premier League champions Chelsea.

Wigan are 15.00 (Full Time Result) to pull off a shock result, while Chelsea are fancied at 1.22 for the three points and it is 6.00 that the match is drawn.

The Spaniard insists that, while it is inevitable that his players will be linked with other clubs, no one will leave without adequate replacements lined up.

He said: “If we lose a player, I will make sure we are a stronger football club the day after because the structure we have put in place will be able to bring more players in.”

Martinez has already bolstered his squad in the summer window by bringing in James McArthur, Antolin Alcaraz, Ronnie Stam, Mauro Boselli and Ali Al Habsi.

He added: “We lost nine players in the summer and brought five in so, if you do the maths, we are light in numbers.

“We are starting to build a strong squad but we still need a few extra bodies for the demands of the Premier League.”

Wigan are currently 2.20 to be relegated from the Barclays Premier League 2010/11.

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Coventry manager Aidy Boothroyd has revealed Celtic have not made an improved offer for Keiren Westwood.

Rumours are rife in Scotland that Neil Lennon had, or is preparing to, double an initial bid believed to be in the region of £500,000 for the Republic of Ireland international goalkeeper, who is out of contract next summer.

But Boothroyd, discussing Celtic’s advances for the first time, insists the Clydesdale Bank Premier League outfit have not been in touch since their first approach was rejected three weeks ago, and implied they would be wasting their time with an offer around the £1million mark.

“They made an offer about three weeks ago and Keiren knows all about it,” said the Sky Blues boss this afternoon at the club’s Ryton training ground.

“It’s £3.50 and a bag of haggis, which is nowhere near enough for a player of that quality.

“I don’t want to lose someone who I think is the best goalkeeper in the division, someone I want to do is build a team around him.

“Negotiations (regarding a new contract) are ongoing, as they always are, it’s a pain in the neck but that’s how it is I’m afraid when other people are involved.”

He continued: “The offer is not really worth talking about because it’s derisory and derogatory.

“So for now Keiren is very much our player. I want him here, (chairman) Ray Ranson wants him here and I imagine every single Coventry fan, player and member of staff wants him here. This is the place for him to further his career.”

Westwood has been the subject of much transfer speculation over the past 12 months or so, with Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp seeing a deadline-day bid rejected out of hand back in January.

Dundee United goalkeeper Dusan Pernis has revealed his dream to play in the English Premier League amid interest from Fulham and West Ham.

Pernis was watched by scouts from the Premier League duo in the pre-season friendly at Hull and the 25-year-old is flattered to have been tracked.

The Slovakia international is more than happy plying his trade in the SPL but he does dream of playing in England.

“I have heard the rumours but I don’t know anything about any offers from those clubs,” Pernis told the Daily Record.

“Of course it’s great to have those kinds of teams interested in me. And I always said I came to Scotland to move closer to my dream which was to play in the English Premier League.

“But I am young, I’m 25 and I have plenty of time to do that in the future. I am a Dundee United player and happy with that.

“It has also helped me go to the World Cup with my country, which was a fantastic achievement.

“I feel I can continue to become a better goalkeeper here – I do not have to leave.”

Celtic boss Neil Lennon concedes Aiden McGeady may have made his last appearance for the club – but Scott Brown is hoping he stays put.

The Republic of Ireland international has missed the majority of pre-season with a number of niggling knocks, but did return to the fold for Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Lyon in the Emirates Cup.

However, another setback in his return to fitness forced him to sit out a meeting with Arsenal on Sunday.

With speculation mounting regarding his future at Parkhead, it has been suggested that his days as a Celtic player are now over.

Lennon admits the tricky winger could soon be on his way, but insists the ongoing rumours had nothing to do with his decision to omit McGeady from his matchday squad against the Gunners.

“He has got a calf strain and we can’t take risks with him,” he told Sky Sports.

“I know people will be thinking other things, but Aiden’s not one of those to fake injuries and make things up. He has genuinely got a calf strain.”

On talk that McGeady has played his last game for the Hoops, Lennon added: “Possibly, you never know what will happen in the game.

“He is in a difficult situation, it’s not easy for the lad and he has my sympathy with that. He has not trained much and he hasn’t played much so he’s just picking up little niggles here and there. We can’t take any chances with him.”

While McGeady appears to be edging towards the exits, Celtic skipper Brown is still holding out hope that he can be persuaded to stay.

He admits the highly-rated 24-year-old would be a success in England, should he head to the Premier League, but believes he could do a lot worse than stick around in Glasgow.

“I think everyone in the dressing room wants him to stay,” said Brown.

“Aiden’s a fantastic player. I think he’d fit in well to any Premier League team as well. If he goes, we wish him all the best, but we hope he stays.”

He added: “He’s a huge player for us, he’s great, he’s talented, can create chances and score goals.

“We’ve maybe missed that in the last couple of games but you’ve seen over the last four or five seasons he’s played for Celtic, he’s been frightening. He creates chances from nothing.”

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has quelled rumours that he is currently looking to sign Michael Mancienne from Chelsea on a permanent basis – for the moment.

McCarthy has already brought in six new players to Molineux this summer and insists that he must look to off-load personnel before attempting to bring in any more new faces.

The versatile Mancienne, who is comfortable in defence or as a holding midfielder, has already spent two seasons on loan at Wolves. According to reports he has asked for a transfer away from Stamford Bridge and it would cost Wolves around £4million if they wished to secure his services permanently.

Despite often speaking highly of Mancienne, McCarthy expressed his view on the situation saying, “I guess people should ask their (Chelsea’s) manager Carlo Ancelotti whether we should read anything into the transfer request.

“If I was reading anything into it, I suggest he wants a transfer! But that’s the first I’ve heard about it.

“I’m not looking at signings at all at the moment.

“We need to lose some players rather than take any more in and certainly won’t do any more business unless anyone leaves.”

Mancienne, who has also been linked with Spanish clubs Malaga and Sevilla as well as Portuguese outfit Sporting Lisbon, initially joined up with Wolves during their 2008/09 campaign, helping them gain automatic promotion from the Championship.

Wolves are currently 3.25 to be relegated from the Premier League 2010/11 and are 1.33 not to be relegated.

Their opening Premier League fixture sees them play host to rivals Stoke. Wolves are on offer at 2.30, the draw is available at 3.25 whereas Stoke are 2.87 to take all three points.

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