Wigan turn down Palacios bid

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan is adamant that Wilson Palacios will not leave the club on the cheap after rejecting a £10million bid from Tottenham for the midfielder.

Palacios signed a three-and-a-half year deal at the JJB Stadium from Honduran side Deportivo Olimpia just over a year ago, and his performances have linked him with moves to Manchester United, Real Madrid and Spurs, who lodged the bid for the 24-year-old earlier on Wednesday.

"They can come back or forget it, £10million is not enough for him so we will wait and see what they do," Whelan told Sky Sports News.

Whelan, who also faces the prospect of losing sought-after pair Emile Heskey and Amr Zaki at the end of the season, believes Palacios is worth far more than Spurs' offer, but refused to rule out selling the player altogether.

"We are looking for more than that," he added. "It would be unfair for me to tell you what we are talking to Tottenham Hotspur about. It is private business but we are looking for more than that, that's for sure."

And speaking after the Latics' 1-0 defeat at Manchester United on Wednesday night, Wigan boss Steve Bruce admitted he was powerless to stop either Palacios or any of his other sought-after players leaving the club.

"We are realistic at Wigan. We do offer them the chance to come to the Premier League and prove themselves to be Premier League footballers," Bruce told Sky Sports News.

"The big boys start circling and coming to nick your players and unfortunately, if they pay enough, then they are always going to get their own way, that is the way of the world unfortunately.

"We don't want to lose anyone but everyone knows in football that everyone has their price and of course we can't deny the players that opportunity to further their careers."