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N'Zogbia's a bargain compared to Downing - Whelan

Wigan will let Charles N'Zogbia leave for £10 million © PA Photos

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Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has told Aston Villa and any other chasing clubs to stop delaying over a £10 million bid for Charles N'Zogbia, insisting he is a bargain when compared to Stewart Downing.

Villa offloaded Downing for £20 million to Liverpool, and Alex McLeish has already failed with one approach for replacement left winger N'Zogbia. Wigan chairman Whelan is holding out for £10 million, and he insists even that is a snip for whichever club gets the France international.

Whelan also claims there are two other Premier League sides seriously interested in N'Zogbia, whom the Wigan chief labels the "most direct" player in England's top flight.

"The team have gone to Austria today but 'Zoggy' hasn't gone," Whelan told Sky Sports News. "He is a great lad to have around the club. If we do lose him, and we may well do because he has expressed a desire to move on, we will miss him enormously. But he is a great asset for any football club who wants him.

"I have always said for £10 million he is an absolute snip, if Stewart Downing can change hands for £20 million I don't know what Charles is worth. He is the fastest, most direct wide player in the Premier League and I have always asked for £10 million and hopefully we will get it and he will move on and be happy."

Explaining the reason why he is prepared to let arguably his best player leave, Whelan explained he simply cannot afford to allow N'Zogbia to walk away for free at the end of next season.

"He only has 12 months left on his contract. I would love to keep him, he is a great lad and a fantastic player, but everything being as it is we have to be sensible and if we get a decent offer, and Charles wants to go, as usual I will honour what the player wants and let him go.

"[Villa] are not the sole bidders, there are another couple of clubs who are desperate to sign him. It depends how much they can pay up front, because we have got to re-spend that £10 million this season just to replace Charles."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.