Wigan Athletic chief executive Mal Brannigan has explained potential reasons why George Johnston opted for a move to Bolton Wanderers rather than making a return to the Latics.
The 22-year-old defender spent the second half of last season on loan at the DW Stadium from Dutch side Feyenoord.
He scored once in 22 appearances for Leam Richardson's side as they secured their place in League One for next season.
Johnston has since moved to Wanderers and put pen to paper on a three-year deal at the University of Bolton Stadium.
There were hopes that Johnston might head back to Wigan before his move to Bolton, as well as potentially midfielder Lee Evans staying at the club, who has ended up moving to Ipswich Town on a three-year contract when his Latics deal expires at the end of this month.
Latics chief executive Brannigan said that offers were made to both players to stay at Wigan.
But he suggested reasons why both players opted to move on, including the possibility of a higher offer from elsewhere or simply seeking a different challenge.
"Our offers were at the level we were happy with,” he told Wigan Today.
“Beyond that, if the offers are higher elsewhere, then so be it.
“Sometimes players move because they want to seek a different challenge, at a different point in their career.
“In terms of those two players (Evans and Johnston), and maybe others, that can happen.
“But there is a reason for that, and sometimes that reason is not always within our control.”
