Wigan Athletic reveal failed attempt to sign AS Monaco's Emmanuel Riviere

Wigan Athletic manager Owen Coyle has revealed that he tried to sign AS Monaco striker Emmanuel Riviere during the transfer window.

The 23-year-old is currently Ligue 1's top scorer, having netted five times since the start of the season including the winning goal in the 2-1 victory over Marseille on Sunday.

Coyle admitted that he had lodged a bid for the Frenchman but was knocked back by the league leaders.

"We did make offers for strikers, because I do think we're short in that area, but it didn't happen," Coyle told Wigantoday.net. "There was one in particular, Emmanuel Riviere, who we bid £5m for a couple of weeks ago. But it's sod's law that he started the season with five goals in three games which put paid to that.

"He got a hattrick the other week,but even as late as Sunday there was a chance of it happening because they were chasing a lad at Atletico Madrid. We made our offer again, and he was only named on the bench against Marseille.

"I'm watching the game thinking: 'Fine, just don't put him on, we've still got a chance here.' But [Radamel] Falcao turned his ankle at 1-1, Riviere came on, left his two markers for dead and scored the winning goal against the top of the league! Claudio Ranieri rightly wants to keep him now, which I totally understand. If we could have brought him here it would have been an unbelievable signing for us."

Riviere joined Monaco in January.