Real Madrid have resumed talks with Wigan to sign the English Premier League side’s Ecuadorean winger Antonio Valencia, local media reported here on Wednesday.

According to Spanish sports daily AS negotiations are taking place this week and a deal, either permanent transfer or loan, is in sight before the transfer window closes.

Wigan had reportedly fixed a 17.5mil euro price tag on the former Villarreal star’s head when Real first made contact with them in late December.

The 23-year-old Valencia’s advantage to Real is in his eligibility to play Champions League football in contrast to the Spanish giant’s new signings, Lassana Diarra and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

French midfielder Diarra has already played for Portsmouth while Dutch striker Huntelaar has appeared for Ajax this season in the UEFA Cup.

Real agreed with UEFA on Tuesday to drop their appeal to have both Diarra and Huntelaar made eligible for the Champions League.

They must now choose which of the two newcomers they wish to register for the first knockout stage of the Champions League, on Feb 25 and March 10, against Liverpool.

Real — who are second in the title race, 12 points adrift of Barcelona — have sought to reinforce their squad after several key players such as Ruud van Nistelrooy and Malian midfielder Mahamadou Diarra suffered season ending injuries.