Latics boss Steve Bruce said: "This is great news. The transfer is not finalised yet and the player will not be unveiled until it is, but this was the major stumbling block.
Rodallega granted work permit
Latics boss Steve Bruce said: "This is great news. The transfer is not finalised yet and the player will not be unveiled until it is, but this was the major stumbling block.
"We are never comfortable as a club talking about transfers before they are finalised, because so much can potentially happen to delay a move.
"However, we have made an exception in this case because the news is in the public domain. Hugo has yet to undergo a medical but we are very optimistic about this going through, hopefully later this week.
"Like all our overseas transfers, we have worked very hard on this one. The club has sent delegations to South America to watch him and to discuss terms with club and player and we feel he can be a big success in England.
"He is strong and quick, with an eye for goal and if he is anything like the other South and Central American imports we have brought in to the club, we have netted another gem, that's for sure.
"I need to thank everyone behind the scenes at Wigan for the hard work they've put in on this one. We put together a really strong case and we're delighted we've got the green light to press ahead now and try and finalise the transfer."
Both Wednesday's game with Manchester United and Saturday's trip to Manchester City are likely to come to early for the striker who should be available to face Liverpool at the JJB Stadium on the 28th of January.
Meanwhile, Antoine Sibierski's loan deal with Norwich has come to an end. The 34 year old Frenchman was stretched off in Norwich's game at the weekend and is likely to be out for over a month.
Norwich boss Glenn Roeder said: "We think the injury will have taken a minimum of a month, it could be longer and he's got quite severe bruising on his ankle which he twisted badly.
"As far as I'm concerned he'll go back to Wigan and we'll see what happens there after. He certainly wouldn't have been in our plans for four or five weeks anyway.
"I've got huge respect for Antoine, he did a great job for me at Newcastle in the season he had there, and he always gives his all. He acts like a professional should act, and we could have really done with him around the place over these next couple of games."
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