Jewell tried to land the 24-year-old on loan last season and went back to try and agree a permanent deal in the past few weeks.
But with bigger, established Premiership clubs also in the hunt, Latics didn't even get the opportunity to talk to the player.
The manager used the failed bid as an example of how tough it is for newly promoted clubs to compete in the transfer market at the highest level. And Jewell has warned that he will have to be more realistic in his choice of player as Latics build a squad fit to compete in the Premiership.
He told the Evening Post: "Since we got promotion we have been busy in the transfer market and I've hardly been off the phone.
"The players we are probably going to get are not going to be established Premiership players because they won't come here yet – that is a simple fact.
"We outbid three Premiership teams for a major player in the Premiership but he wouldn't even speak to me.
"The bid was £1m more than anyone else had offered and was accepted by the lad's club.
"But when the agent spoke to me, it was a case of 'Thanks very much but when he has the chance of going to Newcastle, Tottenham, Everton or Wigan, where is he really going to go?'
"I'm not having a go at the player in question here, it's a fact of life.
"At the moment if a player has the choice of Newcastle or Wigan, they're going to choose Newcastle."
Jewell knows the picture would change in a year's time should Latics survive their first season in the Premiership.
It would give them more clout in the top flight with experienced players feeling more secure with a move to Wigan.
But until then, there's unlikely to be an influx of bigger names with Latics looking at a different part of the market.
Jewell said: "We want people who will come here, roll up their sleeves, and fight for Wigan Athletic on the pitch.
"We have to work hard to try and establish Wigan as a Premiership club, and if we survive this first season, that will make it a lot easier.
"The message I want to get across to the supporters is let's be realistic about which players we are going to get.
"Let's not think 'he's not in my sticker book' when we sign someone.
"Not many people had heard of Nathan Ellington, Jason Jarrett or Jimmy Bullard when we signed them, but they have turned out to be great buys.
"Possibly we might have to look at good Championship players.
"I have a list of targets as long as my arm.
"Since promotion I've probably had five or six knockbacks from established Premiership players who don't want to come at the moment.
"On the other hand, I could sign 10 Premiership players tomorrow who perhaps aren't as good as they were.
"But I don't believe that is the right way – I might get one in there – but a few coming in for a payday would only lead to disaster."
Jewell yesterday welcomed Bill Green to the club as football co-ordinator, the 55-year-old brought in to help handle contract and transfer negotiations, as well as carrying out scouting duties in this country and abroad.
He said: "Bill will be doing a lot of work, helping me with the football administration side of things, doing some scouting, but he won't be getting involved in the training.
"He has a wealth of experience as a player, manager, coach and chief scout, as it's a position I've wanted to fill for a while."
Former Scunthorpe manager Green added: "What the club has achieved on and off the field is terrific and I can't wait to get started."