Martinez made offer by Liverpool
Reuters - Friday 25 May 2012, 14:15
Wigan Athletic's Roberto Martinez
has been "made an offer" by Liverpool's American owners who are
searching for a new manager after sacking Kenny Dalglish, Wigan
chairman Dave Whelan said on Friday.
Martinez flew to Miami after holidaying in Barbados to meet
Liverpool's principle owner John Henry and, according to Whelan,
is set for a second meeting on Tuesday.
"He had a very constructive meeting. They made an offer and
he has agreed to consider it," Whelan said on Sky Sports.
The Wigan manager has won plaudits for keeping the modest
north-west side in the Premier League for the last three seasons
and for playing an open, expansive brand of passing football.
The Spaniard is odds-on favourite to succeed Dalglish in the
Anfield hotseat after the Scot was sacked following a lacklustre
Premier League campaign where they finished eighth. A League Cup
triumph and FA Cup final appearance did not spare him.
Whelan questioned whether his manager would accept the job
should he be asked to work under a sporting director and not
have full control at the club.
Liverpool sacked director of football Damien Comolli in
April and former Bayern Munich and Barcelona coach Louis van
Gaal has been linked by British media with the vacant position.
"I am still not convinced it is a foregone conclusion,
because they put their points on the table and Roberto put his,"
Whelan also told ESPN.
"He listened to their points, but I think they also listened
to his and I think they are coming to terms with the way English
football is run.
"Roberto wants control over football matters and that
includes transfers, and if they agree to that, then I can see
him becoming the Liverpool manager.
"If they agree to let Roberto take responsibility for the
transfers than I think he will go there and I can see that
Liverpool have set their sights on him."