Wigan reject Aston Villa bid for winger Charles N'Zogbia

N'Zogbia played 38 games for Wigan last season, scoring 10 goals

Wigan have turned down Aston Villa's offer for winger Charles N'Zogbia, BBC Sport has learned.

Villa manager Alex McLeish is keen on the Frenchman to replace Stewart Downing, who has joined Premier League rivals Liverpool.

But Villa's bid, thought to be around £9m, was not enough to tempt Wigan to sell.

N'Zogbia, 25, has made almost 250 appearances in English football, with Wigan and former club Newcastle United.

McLeish was on the verge of signing N'Zogbia last August when he was in charge of Birmingham City only for the transfer to break down over personal terms.

Wigan owner Dave Whelan has already indicated N'Zogbia will be sold.

"We have to sell Charles N'Zogbia because he's on the last year of his contract," said Whelan.

"We can't keep him if a big club comes for him, and he does deserve a big club because he's that kind of quality player.

"We would love to keep him and pay him what he wants to stay with us but it's a very difficult situation. He's such a great player and we are such a small club sometimes we don't go together."

N'Zogbia started out in English football at Newcastle following his 2004 move from Le Havre.

He moved to Wigan in January 2009 after falling out of favour at St James' Park and was voted player of the season by players and fans in the 2009/10 season.

Last season, he was an integral part of the Wigan squad that avoided relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the season.

The winger has won two caps for France, having made his international debut in the friendly defeat in Norway in August 2010.