But Jewell spoke to 34-year-old Guardiola again and contact has been made with his advisors in an attempt to do a deal.
Latics would be permitted to sign the ex-Spain international outside of the transfer window as he is without a club after leaving Al-Ahli in Qatar.
Jewell said: "Pep is still an option for us, I spoke to him again before the weekend and it might happen.
"If it does that would be smashing, if not it won't be the end of the world.
"The problem was that once I showed an interest, every man and his dog were ringing me saying they represented him in England.
"That tends to happen when you go for foreign players.
"I got back to Pep and asked him 'who is looking after you, who do I speak to and who do I do a deal with?'
"We are now speaking with his people to see if something can happen."
While Jewell has been working on trying to add Guardiola to the squad, he has also been busy fending off enquiries for two of his players.
Football League clubs are now permitted to make loan signings outside the window, and that saw Derby County ask about taking Emerson Thome while Norwich were interested in David Wright.
But Jewell is reluctant to allow anyone to leave at this stage, conscious his squad isn't the biggest when it comes to covering injuries and suspensions.
He said: "Phil Brown at Derby rang me about Emerson and he's not the only manager to get in contact about our players.
"Norwich were on about David Wright, but I'm not prepared to let anyone go out on loan at the moment unless it suits our club.
"We've not got the biggest of squads and it only needs one or two absences to stretch us, so we don't want to leave ourselves wide open.
"It would be beneficial for Emerson to play in someone else's first-team rather than our reserves, but we may need him.
"I can understand one or two players being frustrated, but they should be aware that we can't bring anyone in until January."
Thome has been out of action since tearing his thigh muscle in pre-season, but recently returned to training, while Wright has featured in the squad just once this term as an unused substitute at Charlton.
The reason for Jewell's determination to hang on to the two defenders could be the fact skipper Arjan de Zeeuw sprained his ankle in training.
It's not thought the injury is too serious and the centre-half could well be fit in time for Middlesbrough's visit to the JJB Stadium on Sunday.
Jewell said: "Arry went over on his ankle in training but hopefully he will be okay.
"Knowing him, he'll recover, although if he is not fit, we won't risk him."
The Wigan Athletic Official Supporters Club are organising an overnight stop in Portsmouth ahead of the Premiership game on Saturday, November 5.
It costs £59 adults and £55 children for return coach travel, bed and breakfast accommodation and transfers to and from the ground. Ring 07833 906775.
Latics would be permitted to sign the ex-Spain international outside of the transfer window as he is without a club after leaving Al-Ahli in Qatar.
Jewell said: "Pep is still an option for us, I spoke to him again before the weekend and it might happen.
"If it does that would be smashing, if not it won't be the end of the world.
"The problem was that once I showed an interest, every man and his dog were ringing me saying they represented him in England.
"That tends to happen when you go for foreign players.
"I got back to Pep and asked him 'who is looking after you, who do I speak to and who do I do a deal with?'
"We are now speaking with his people to see if something can happen."
While Jewell has been working on trying to add Guardiola to the squad, he has also been busy fending off enquiries for two of his players.
Football League clubs are now permitted to make loan signings outside the window, and that saw Derby County ask about taking Emerson Thome while Norwich were interested in David Wright.
But Jewell is reluctant to allow anyone to leave at this stage, conscious his squad isn't the biggest when it comes to covering injuries and suspensions.
He said: "Phil Brown at Derby rang me about Emerson and he's not the only manager to get in contact about our players.
"Norwich were on about David Wright, but I'm not prepared to let anyone go out on loan at the moment unless it suits our club.
"We've not got the biggest of squads and it only needs one or two absences to stretch us, so we don't want to leave ourselves wide open.
"It would be beneficial for Emerson to play in someone else's first-team rather than our reserves, but we may need him.
"I can understand one or two players being frustrated, but they should be aware that we can't bring anyone in until January."
Thome has been out of action since tearing his thigh muscle in pre-season, but recently returned to training, while Wright has featured in the squad just once this term as an unused substitute at Charlton.
The reason for Jewell's determination to hang on to the two defenders could be the fact skipper Arjan de Zeeuw sprained his ankle in training.
It's not thought the injury is too serious and the centre-half could well be fit in time for Middlesbrough's visit to the JJB Stadium on Sunday.
Jewell said: "Arry went over on his ankle in training but hopefully he will be okay.
"Knowing him, he'll recover, although if he is not fit, we won't risk him."
The Wigan Athletic Official Supporters Club are organising an overnight stop in Portsmouth ahead of the Premiership game on Saturday, November 5.
It costs £59 adults and £55 children for return coach travel, bed and breakfast accommodation and transfers to and from the ground. Ring 07833 906775.