And that could see the Premiership new boys land Algerian midfielder Djamel Belmadi who is available this summer.
The former Marseille player had a trial with Celtic last week but is believed to be on his way to the JJB Stadium to train with Latics.
Belmadi, 29, spent four seasons with Marseille and also had shorter spells with Spanish club Celta Vigo and Manchester City.
His current club are Al Ittihad in Qatar but it's understood he would be available on a free transfer.
Latics have started to tap into the foreign transfer market following a tough time on the domestic front.
They were continually frustrated earlier in the summer when they tried to land players from these shores.
Jewell's preference was to buy British, but with players reluctant to chance their luck at Wigan, he's been looking abroad.
The arrival of French defender Chimbonda at the end of last week signalled a change of fortune and it might be the majority of recruits before the big kick-off will be foreigners.
Chimbonda, snapped up for a fee of around £500,000 from Bastia, trained for the first time with his Latics team-mates on Friday.
He returned home to France for the weekend but was due back in Wigan today to join in pre-season training.
The 26-year-old can expect to command a regular place, either at right-back or in the centre of defence.
Both positions need filling following the departures of Nicky Eaden and Ian Breckin to Nottingham Forest.
Jewell now wants to bring in another defender, a central midfielder – hence the link with Belmadi – a winger and a striker.
While much of manager's recruitment looks like being done abroad, he hasn't given up looking in England.
And there's a chance he could aim to bring Brett Ormerod back to the JJB following the Southampton striker's successful six-week loan spell last season.
Jewell was keen to do a deal in April but Ormerod was recalled early by the Saints as they battled in vain against relegation.
As well as recruiting new signings, Latics face a busy time closer to home trying to cement the futures of Nathan Ellington and Jimmy Bullard.
There has been much speculation about their futures as they are now in the final year of their contracts and have yet to tie up new deals.
Both are keen to stay at Wigan but are reported to be unhappy with the fresh terms they have been offered by the club.
Jewell is believed to have met with Bullard at the end of last week to discuss the midfielder's position and hopes to resolve his future soon.
Latics were back in training this morning after having the weekend off, and head to Denmark on Sunday for a six-day training camp.
The former Marseille player had a trial with Celtic last week but is believed to be on his way to the JJB Stadium to train with Latics.
Belmadi, 29, spent four seasons with Marseille and also had shorter spells with Spanish club Celta Vigo and Manchester City.
His current club are Al Ittihad in Qatar but it's understood he would be available on a free transfer.
Latics have started to tap into the foreign transfer market following a tough time on the domestic front.
They were continually frustrated earlier in the summer when they tried to land players from these shores.
Jewell's preference was to buy British, but with players reluctant to chance their luck at Wigan, he's been looking abroad.
The arrival of French defender Chimbonda at the end of last week signalled a change of fortune and it might be the majority of recruits before the big kick-off will be foreigners.
Chimbonda, snapped up for a fee of around £500,000 from Bastia, trained for the first time with his Latics team-mates on Friday.
He returned home to France for the weekend but was due back in Wigan today to join in pre-season training.
The 26-year-old can expect to command a regular place, either at right-back or in the centre of defence.
Both positions need filling following the departures of Nicky Eaden and Ian Breckin to Nottingham Forest.
Jewell now wants to bring in another defender, a central midfielder – hence the link with Belmadi – a winger and a striker.
While much of manager's recruitment looks like being done abroad, he hasn't given up looking in England.
And there's a chance he could aim to bring Brett Ormerod back to the JJB following the Southampton striker's successful six-week loan spell last season.
Jewell was keen to do a deal in April but Ormerod was recalled early by the Saints as they battled in vain against relegation.
As well as recruiting new signings, Latics face a busy time closer to home trying to cement the futures of Nathan Ellington and Jimmy Bullard.
There has been much speculation about their futures as they are now in the final year of their contracts and have yet to tie up new deals.
Both are keen to stay at Wigan but are reported to be unhappy with the fresh terms they have been offered by the club.
Jewell is believed to have met with Bullard at the end of last week to discuss the midfielder's position and hopes to resolve his future soon.
Latics were back in training this morning after having the weekend off, and head to Denmark on Sunday for a six-day training camp.