Coyle clarifies Al Habsi situation

Reports on Wednesday suggested Coyle may be ready to let go of Al Habsi, who has played only 10 times in the Premier League for Wanderers since joining them in 2006 but has shown impressive form this term during a loan stint at Wigan, where he has supplanted former England stopper Chris Kirkland as first-choice. The Oman international's deal with the Latics runs to the end of the season and their manager Roberto Martinez has indicated he hopes to secure Al Habsi's services at that point, although there has been talk of several clubs looking to sign the 28-year-old on a permanent basis in January. Coyle said on Thursday he would consider any approaches that came in for the player, but emphasised none had emerged so far and that he was certainly not seeking them out. "I was asked a question about players, Al Habsi being one of them, and if offers came in for them in January, what would the situation be," Coyle said. "What I said was that it was hypothetical, because at the moment, it is not the situation we are in. "If and when any offer comes in for my players - not that we want any, but if they did - it is something we would look at as a club. "But we are not sitting here wanting any offers for our players. I am very comfortable with the squad I have got and Ali Al Habsi is a part of that." Coyle was keen to assure Al Habsi that as far as he was concerned, the situation had not changed. "I addressed it straight away by talking to Ali's representative so they knew," Coyle said. "We signed a season-long loan with Wigan, a very good financial deal for the football club and an opportunity for Ali, who we have a very high opinion of, to go and play in the Premier League week in, week out. "He had been number two to Jussi Jaaskelainen and it wasn't doing him any favours in his development as a player. "He had to go and play and he has shown his qualities this year, because he has been outstanding for Wigan. "We entered into that loan deal with Wigan expecting that to be for the season-long loan and nothing has changed on that. "Because we are getting to the silly season, when the transfers come up and everything else, if people want to invent something, then that is up to them. "But I can assure you that we signed that in good faith with Wigan and unless something was to change from their end, then I see that being concluded." As for potential incoming personnel, Coyle hopes it will be possible when the transfer window reopens to make additions to a squad which has excelled so far in the 2010-11 campaign. Wanderers, who travel to Sunderland on Saturday, are sixth in the table after 17 games and the manager knows it is important any new players fit in well with the environment he is creating at the club. "I'm actively looking every day to bring players in, but whether we are able to bring that to fruition is another thing," Coyle said. "It takes finance, availability and a desire to come, but I would love to help the group we have by freshening it up. "I will continue to look for the right sort of player - not just in terms of ability, but also the right sort of character that we can bring into the group. "It is an ongoing process that will never stop."