Antonio Valencia nears Wigan exit

Wigan midfielder Antonio Valencia is likely to be sold this summer, according to chairman Dave Whelan. Both Man Utd and Real Madrid are desperate to land the midfielder, who would command a fee of around £16 million from the Latics.

Valencia has had two very impressive seasons in the Premiership, and seen a number of clubs interested in his signature.

But Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson has long been an admirer, and would be keen to bring the player to the club as a long term replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, Real Madrid (who are close to signing Ronaldo himself) are also looking to hijack United's move for the Wigan midfielder.

A fee of around £16 million will be enough to persuade the Latics that now is the right time to sell Valencia.

"Antonio is still away on holiday and is back towards the end of the week, and we can't do anything until he gets back," Whelan told the Wigan Observer. "The meetings with Manchester United and Real Madrid have not

happened yet, because they both know he is away.

"We can't do anything and they can't do anything until he does get back. Where he goes and what he does is entirely up to him.

"There are offers on the table, but football doesn't operate like that. Whatever anybody says or what they tell you on the telephone, I like to see it in black and white.

"We have definitely had offers, but we are just waiting for him to come back. It's no use me saying he is going to Manchester United, because he is the boss and we'll be listening to what he says.

"We have had offers that are acceptable to Wigan Athletic, around the £14-£18m mark, but what we will finish up with eventually I don't know.

"One club could offer £2m more than the other, but if Antonio says he doesn't want to go there then there is no point.

"We can't tell him where he wants to go. If he wants to go, we've always promised him he can go. But if he wants to stay, then he'll stay."