Bruce Realistic Over Heskey

Manager Steve Bruce admits Wigan may have to cash in on star striker Emile Heskey in the January transfer window.

The England international is out of contract at the end of the season and was linked with a £10million move last month to Tottenham, who Wigan face at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Bruce insists there was no formal approach from Spurs before the transfer deadline, but given Heskey could leave for free next summer, the Latics boss accepts he would have to consider any serious offers for the 30-year-old in January.

"That's when you need your chairman to understand the situation," said Bruce.

"If somebody's going to offer us £10million, for instance, in January, then I've got a decision to make.

"That certainly wasn't the case in the summer so there wasn't a decision to make.

"There's got to be a buyer and it's got to be an offer big enough to take away an England centre-forward in the middle of the season.

"It's a big, big decision to make on behalf of the club but one that you have to consider if it happens."

Bruce understands Heskey's stance of keeping his options open over his contract but is hopeful that when the time comes, he can convince the former Liverpool man to extend his stay at the JJB Stadium.

"I think the position is quite clear and if I was still a player I might be edging towards doing the same thing myself," he added.

"With the Bosman ruling, he's quite within his rights to say 'I've got 10 months left, I'm going to see what develops'.

"As long as he keeps producing as he is doing for us then I'll offer him a deal tomorrow - he knows that.

"But he's entitled to keep his options open and see where the club is at the end of the season.

"I know he's really enjoying himself at the moment and he's probably in the best physical condition he's ever been in.

"He's playing as well as he ever has done and got himself back in the England team, so all of that bodes well for us."

 

Source – Yahoo! Sport / Eurosport