Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has rubbished talks that Villa are close to a deal for South American duo Hugo Rodallega and Maynor Figueroa. It had been suggested that Houllier was hoping to bring in the pair for a combined fee of £10m with striker Rodallega costing £6m and defender Figueroa, £4m. After revealing that Villa may well look to bring in reinforcements up front due to a lack of goals from Emile Heskey’s supporting forwards, it seems Villa have reignited an interest in Colombian Rodallega who has been linked to various Premier League sides. The 25-year-old joined Wigan two years ago and has impressed for the Latics, becoming a main threat for the side alongside Charles N’Zogbia. He has 5 league goals to his name in 19 appearances this season and was Wigan’s top scorer last season with 10 as well as assisting 7 goals. He has a total of 18 goals in 76 appearances for the club, netting on average 1 every 4 games for a team which aren’t renowned for creating many chances. Figueroa will be known to most for his goal of the season last year, when he scored an audacious free-kick from well inside his own half against Stoke. Despite pulling decidedly less interest than his Columbian colleague, Figueroa has become a fans favourite in his 3 seasons at the DW Stadium. His fantastic, opportunistic strike against Stoke is one of only 2 goals that the Honduran has scored in 104 games at the club but as a defender he has stood out as one of the club’s most consistent in a fragile back four over the years.
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