Simpson said: "It's £3million guaranteed plus a further £1million in add-ons dependant on appearances and Wigan retaining their Premier League status. It's less than we got for Hameur Bouazza but Marlon is now 27 and there was the hitch with Fulham about his knee.
"Marlon wanted to go in the summer but we managed to keep him here but then he came in Christmas and said we had to let him go to secure his family's future. We have to remember that this is a man who has been in prison and had the opportunity to resurrect his career.
"If someone offered you twice what you earn you'd consider it and your wife would make you think about it too. He wasn't on peanuts here but he didn't have a three-and-a-half-year deal here either."
King has gone straight into the squad for tonight's game with Middlesbrough and may even start with Emile Heskey given the chance to rest his back injury.
Meantime, Middlesbrough are without first choice left back Emmanuel Pogatetz. The Austrian defender is injured for tonight's game and youngster Johnathon Grounds may have to play instead.
Boro' boss Southgate said: "I have to have a think about the left-back position for the Wigan game. It's obviously not great with Mani, if he was able to carry on he certainly would. Jonathan Grounds did very well against Liverpool so there is a couple of possible options to look at."
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