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Wigan’s veteran defender Mario Melchiot has joined the exodus of ageing players from the Premier League and Serie A to join clubs in the Gulf.
The 33-year-old Dutchman has agreed to join Umm Salal in Qatar.
Last week Italy’s captain Fabio Cannavaro joined Al Ahli in Dubai and last month Lekhwiya in Qatar signed Portsmouth’s Aruna Dindane.Melchiot, who had been offered a new contract but with a pay cut at Wigan, has signed a lucrative two-year deal.
The Dutchman, who also had spells at Chelsea and Birmingham, was in the Wigan team which shipped eight goals at Chelsea last month and lost 9-1 at Tottenham in November.
James McArthur’s agent has confirmed newly-promoted Leeds have so far not bid for the Hamilton ace, who is also attracting Wigan and West Brom.
The Whites have been linked with a move for the highly-rated 22-year-old midfielder who has 12 months remaining on his Accies contract.
The talented midfielder is being tipped to leave Hamilton this summer as the club looks to avoid the possibility of losing him for nothing at the end of next season.
McArthur’s agent Willie McKay has confirmed his client is close friends with Leeds’ Robert Snodgrass, but does not think the Championship side have not been in contact with Hamilton.
Premier League duo West Brom and Wigan have also been linked with the midfielder along with Rangers and McKay knows the talent would have no qualms adapting to England’s top flight.
“I’ve not had any contact myself and I don’t think Hamilton have had either,” he told the Yorkshire Evening Post regarding talk of a bid from Leeds.
“I know Ken (Bates) because I lived in Monaco and he was obviously there, but there’s nothing really there. The only thing I’d say is that he’s a good pal of Robert Snodgrass and he’ll be at the same level as Snodgrass and is a very good player.
“He could play in the Premier League all day long. There’s plenty of interest in him, although no-one has actually made a formal bid.
“He’s a box-to-box central midfield player and can play anywhere in the midfield and he can hold his own in most sides and he can also score a goal or two.
“Rangers want him and West Brom have been up quite a lot of times and Wigan have met him and he’s got a good future.”
Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez has confirmed his interest in signing Argentine striker Mauro Boselli.
Skysports.com revealed earlier in the week that the Latics are leading the chase to snap up the Estudiantes front man over the summer.
Martinez says reports in Argentina that a deal has already been agreed are premature, but he acknowledged that he is keen on Boselli.
“At the moment, everything is still up in the air with that one,” Martinez told the Wigan Evening Post.
“It is true he is a player we have been following for a long time, but I can’t confirm anything regarding an offer.
“Over the next few weeks we hope to finalise a few things with the players we have been trying to get.
“Mauro is one of a number of names that will come out because we have been following a lot of players.”
Birmingham City and Sunderland have previously been linked with Boselli, while Boca Juniors want to keep the forward in his homeland.
