Bruce has £15m warchest

Steve Bruce is reportedly being given £15m to find players to help keep Wigan in the top flight of the Premiership this season. The ex-Birmingham boss is keen to establish Wigan as a force in the Premiership and has admitted he will be spending big in order to do so.

"Steve Bruce is the guy we wanted," Whelan said. "He's one of the best young managers in the land."

With a reported transfer budget of £15 million it is hoped that Steve Bruce will bring in some quality this January to get the Latics back on the road to survival.

Bruce has already been linked with a move for Daniel de Ridder at his old club Birmingham.