No Real offer for Valencia - Bruce

Steve Bruce has scotched speculation that Spanish giants Real Madrid have made a big-money bid for Wigan winger Luis Antonio Valencia.

The 23-year-old Ecuador international, who has become an instrumental player at the JJB Stadium since joining Latics in the summer of 2006, has been attracting interest of a host of clubs and Real Madrid were thought to be ready to swoop. However after Valencia's agent, Diego Herrera, admitted it would be a dream move for him earlier in the week, he did say no bid has been forthcoming.

Bruce has now spoken out to play down suggestions that Valencia could be on his way and insisted they have heard nothing from the reigning Spanish champions.

He told the Evening Post: "I told him it is all speculation, as we haven't had a bid and hopefully that will be the case in four weeks' time.

"The big clubs are watching us constantly, but it just shows what good players we have here at Wigan."