Roberto Martinez completed his deadline day business by snapping up the rangy Argentinian Franco Di Santo from Chelsea on a three-year deal. The 21-year old has arrives to boost Wigan’s attacking options joining Tom Cleverley, yesterday’s loan signing from United, in the Wigan squad.

This looks to be a smart bit of business from Martinez. The fee involved is undisclosed but in Di Santo Wigan have themselves a 6ft 3ins target man with decent touch and awareness, blooded amongst the array of talent at Stamford Bridge.

Martinez was quick to point out the potential of his new striker on completing the deal…

“We all feel that Franco can fulfil his potential at our football club and he’ll bring a completely different dimension to our squad with his presence, technical ability and hard-work.”

Di Santo had struggled to make an impression at Chelsea and had slipped down the pecking order of strikers with the signing of Daniel Sturridge from Man City. In reserve team football he demonstrated his potential, notching 12 goals in 8 games in the 2007/08 season but on the step up to first team duty, Di Santo struggled. Having made eight substitute appearances for Chelsea in 2008/09 he was shipped out to Blackburn Rovers last term. Sam Allardyce duly handed him 15 starts with a return of just one goal; Wigan must realise then that Di Santo is far from the finished article.

The Argentinian faces a familiar fight to establish himself in Martinez’ first team plans. Fellow Argentinian international Mauro Boselli is yet to catch fire but is a proven goalscorer who will surely be given more time to get off the mark and establish himself against Premier League defences. With Hugo Rodallega his partner in a 4-4-2, or positioned on the flanks with Victor Moses in a 4-3-3, it’s not clear just how Di Santo will slot in.

The role of an impact sub seems likely and in Fantasy terms Di Santo will remain on the periphery. His arrival could however have an effect on Boselli who now has real competition for the centre-forward role. That will either see him react positively or ultimately it will mean that Boselli’s pitch time is reduced in the coming weeks. Another potential nail in his descending Fantasy coffin.