Wigan head race to land Hearts ace Goncalves

Having rejected a new contract worth 13,000 a week at Tynecastle, the 24-year-old is seeking a new club and revealed today that his two primary options are top-flight sides in England and Spain.

Roberto Martinez, the Wigan manager, faces a defensive crisis ahead of next season with centre-backs Gary Caldwell and Titus Bramble both undergoing surgery recently which will hinder their pre-season preparations. Additionally, Martinez has lost the out-of-contract Paul Scharner with Mario Melchiot yet to commit to a new deal.

The opportunity to sign Goncalves on freedom of contract would appeal but Wigan face competition from other English Premier League clubs, with Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United also said to be monitoring the Portuguese. There is additional interest from Italy and Germany but Goncalves said his choice will be between England and Spain.

"I will know in the next week, things are moving forward," he told the Evening News. "I will be in England or Spain. I have options in the Premier League and La Liga. I think the Premier League is the best league in the world.

"The club in England is not a newly-promoted team. Every year in the Premier League they are doing very well and I think it's a good option. I have discussed a contract with them and we just need to discuss the small stuff and see if everything can work out like we want.

"I said before that I would like to stay in Scotland but, if I stay, it's only for Rangers or Celtic. I had some contact with one of them before so it's possible, but my main two options are England and Spain."

Goncalves' Hearts contract officially expires on 30 June but he is available to sign a pre-contract agreement immediately.

Meanwhile, the agent of another former Tynecastle player, Christian Nade, said today that the Frenchman is now unlikely to pursue Hearts for failing to recognise a three-and-a-half-year contract which he claimed to have signed in January.

The club threatened legal action over Nade's allegations but Laurent D'Jaffo, the player's representative, said the matter won't be taken further. "We have been on to the PFA but because we don't have the documentation in writing it won't stand up in a court of law," said D'Jaffo.

"It is disappointing because we took the people of Hearts at face value but they have gone back on their word."