Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan has conceded that the Latics will not stand in England International Emile Heskey’s way if he were to demand a move away from the JJB Stadium in January.

30-year-old Heskey was a target for Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur on transfer deadline day, but the move to White Hart Lane failed to happen, with Heskey pledging his future to Steve Bruce’s team.

However, the uncertainty surrounding the former Liverpool target-man continues to mount, with Whelan revealing that Wigan would not stand in the striker’s way should Spurs come calling again, provided the offer was right.

Whelan said in The People: “We don't want Emile to go, but football is football.

“If somebody pays enough money and Emile wants to go we would never try to keep a player.

“We don't want him to leave and he's happy here, but if anything develops Emile will have the final say.”