Wigan in battle for Ecuador striker Cristian Benitez

Wigan boss Steve Bruce faces a battle with German side Hoffenheim to sign Ecuador forward Cristian Benitez.

Bruce wants the striker to sign in January and is trying to sort out a fee with his Mexican club Santos Laguna, who want £10million.

However Hoffenheim, the Bundesliga new boys who are fighting for the title, also want to sign Benitez in January.

Bruce may now have to fly to South America to broker the deal himself and find out if Benitez would prefer a Premier League survival fight to chasing a shot in the Champions League.

Bruce hopes his winger Luis Antonio Valencia, also from Ecuador, can persuade Benitez to join..

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