Everton and Wigan reach Roberto Martinez agreement

The Spaniard held talks with Toffees chairman Bill Kenwright last week and a deal has now been agreed to buy out the remaining year of Martinez’s contract.

Whelan told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I’ve reached some terms with the chairman, Bill, of Everton about six o’clock this evening.

“He can now talk to Everton because Bill and myself have sorted the compensation.”

Martinez had already held talks, with Whelan’s permission, but is now free to discuss contract terms.

“He’d spoken to Everton because I gave them permission,” Whelan said.

“When he came back and told me how it had gone, it had gone very well and he was probably in the last two or three on the list.

“Then the chairman rang me and discussed the compensation deal with me, and we agreed that this evening.”

Porto coach Vitor Pereira and former Schalke boss Ralf Rangnick had also been linked with the vacancy.

Martinez, 39, was linked with the Everton vacancy almost as soon as David Moyes’ departure to Manchester United was confirmed.

Whelan initially suggested, before FA Cup winners Wigan’s relegation from the Barclays Premier League, that Everton were not a big enough club to tempt Martinez away.

But he said last night: “Sometimes I wind the chairman up at Everton because we’ve had some really serious fun and entertainment watching Everton play Wigan. We get on so well together.

“When I say things like ‘I thought you meant a big football club’, I’m winding Bill up. They are a big club, no question.

“After leaving Wigan, I think Everton is the next stop of Roberto before he goes to the very, very top. Everton is run very similarly to Wigan, it’s a family-run club, a friendly club with a great bunch of supporters. They’re a bigger club than Wigan and it’s a super club.

“(If he goes) I will say to Roberto – which I’ve already said, because I had a meeting with him tonight – I will wish him nothing but the very best of luck.”