Villarreal's Marco Ruben Chased By Wigan & Other Premier League Clubs

Argentine striker Marco Ruben has reportedly attracted interest from a whole host of Premier League clubs, while a deal with Wigan Athletic could still be on the cards.

The former River Plate forward has already agreed terms with Wigan, who are ready to pay around £7million for his services.

However, his current club Villarreal were not happy with the payment methods and a deal may no longer be imminent.

So now, after hearing of the collapse of this transfer, scouts from several other Premier League clubs are apparently set to fly to Spain and check on Ruben.

It's likely that any club interested in Marco Ruben will have to pay the £7million fee the Latics agreed with El Submarino Amarillo.

Quite frankly, it's time and money wasted for a player who has never played in the Villarreal first team.

Ruben joined Villarreal from one of Argentina's top clubs, River Plate, in a deal worth around £3.5million ($7 million) back in January 2008.

Tipped to be one for the future, Ruben was immediately loaned out for a season-and-a half to Recreativo de Huelva, where he gained a lot of experience playing top flight football in La Liga.

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Coming back to Villarreal in June 2009, the 23-year-old had scored just seven goals in 43 appearances for Recreativo, scoring three goals in the entire 2008/09 campaign, despite being a regular fixture in the starting 11.

Since then, he has been playing in the Villarreal 'B' team, who are participating in their first season in the Segunda División .

In half a season his record has improved somewhat, scoring nine goals in 17 appearances in the Spanish second division.

Although at 23, his track record clearly doesn't warrant a £7million move to Wigan Athletic; however, perhaps Wigan boss Roberto Martinez sees something in Ruben which every other football spectator does not.

Sure, Ruben has the strength and aerial ability to be a kind of Latin Emile Heskey, but he simply doesn't have the touch, close control, and most importantly, the finishing ability to score the amount of goals Wigan and other Premier League clubs are probably looking for.

He may adapt well to the style of play in England, but for a £7million transfer fee, Villarreal will be laughing all the way to the bank.

According to various media reports, several scouts from top Premier League sides will be attending the Villarreal 'B' team's match against Levante in Valencia to assess Ruben's ability.

For the money Marco Ruben will cost, do not be surprised if many of those scouts come home disappointed.