Latics boss Steve Bruce has confirmed they will not be taking up the option of making the Egypt international's one-year loan spell permanent for a number of reasons.

But despite the 26-year-old having problems with injury and time-keeping - he was fined four times by Bruce for arriving back late from international duty - his personal manager Mohamed Saied claims there has been no shortage of interest from other top-flight sides.

"Four Premier League clubs have made solid bids to land Zaki, they have all offered him higher wages than that he's paid at Wigan," Saied told FilGoal.com.

"Zaki called on Wigan's officials to increase his wage, but they turned him down by saying there is a maximum limit for players' salaries, hence he decided to depart."

However, Wigan insist it was they who pulled the plug on a deal for the player.

They have written to Egyptian club Zamalek to confirm their stance and are already looking at new targets.

"The writing has been on the wall for a while now, but it's a shame, it really is," said Bruce.

"There was no doubt Zaki had the world at his feet last October when he scored those two goals against Liverpool at Anfield.

"He had a wonderful chance over here but he was badly advised I think, he listened to the wrong people.

"It's a shame it's worked out this way, he set us on fire with those goals earlier in the season.

"But Zaki hasn't scored from open play since Liverpool. We've missed him in that respect, but there you go."

Zaki's future at the JJB Stadium was in doubt from the moment in April when Bruce labelled the striker unprofessional for his poor time-keeping.

Injuries - Zaki is currently sidelined with a knee problem - and lack of form having not scored since December 28 made a permanent deal even more unlikely.

Zaki's stay at Wigan has been something of a circus ever since he hit eight goals in his first 10 matches and was the Premier League's leading scorer at the end of October.

That early season form led to him being linked with Real Madrid, Chelsea and Liverpool, among others, and Bruce believed the player allowed those stories to go to his head and affect his performances.