Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan insists they do not need to sell Manchester United target Antonio Valencia.

Whelan said: "The master, which is Sir Alex, he makes his moves when he is ready. He has strong interest in Antonio, there is no question in that.

"He had him watched practically every, single match last year. He has got a very strong interest in him. We are just sat on the fence now."

Whelan, though, is adamant that Wigan are not eager to cash in on Valencia.

"We are not desperate to sell Antonio, I'm telling you. If I can keep that lad, I'm going to keep him. He is one brilliant player," added Whelan.

"So there is no pressure on me, or our football club to sell him. If Man United don't want to make a (written) offer, I'll be delighted and we will have him in our team next season."

But the Wigan chairman admits that he will not stand in the 23-year-old's way if he expresses a desire to move to Old Trafford and the club's asking price is met.

He said: "What is difficult is to stop a lad like Antonio Valencia, who has got ambition. It is difficult to stop a footballer, who wants to get to the very, very top of the ladder.

"I would never stand in the way of a footballer who can go to bigger and better clubs, and you can't get bigger and better than Man United.

"If Antonio Valencia says to me, 'chairman, I want to go to Manchester United' and we get the right fee, the deal will be done."