Swans boss Roberto Martinez has been linked with several managerial jobs
Swansea manager Roberto Martinez is Wigan chairman Dave Whelan's first choice as replacement for Steve Bruce.
Wigan have made an approach for Martinez, but Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins says they are "miles apart" in terms of valuation of the Swans boss.
"Wigan asked for permission to speak to Roberto. They asked what compensation we'd be looking for and we talked about different figures," said Jenkins.
Whelan confirmed: "He [Martinez] is my number one choice."
But he added: "I have not got permission to talk to him. I need permission from the Swansea chairman before I can even say hello to Roberto.
"I am asking for permission to talk to Roberto Martinez and until I get that permission I can't talk to him.
"If he [Jenkins] says you've not got permission I've got to look elsewhere."
Jenkins will meet Martinez on Wednesday to discuss his future and is understood to want more than £2m in compensation.
"I told them [Wigan] what I valued Roberto at and they told me what they thought - we were miles apart to say the least," revealed Jenkins.
"I have not given them permission to talk to Roberto."
Wigan have started the hunt for a new manager after Bruce left to take over at Sunderland.
Martinez, who has four years left on his contract, is now back in the country after spending a few days away in Ibiza to think over his future.
"We will do everything in our power to keep him," Jenkins told BBC Wales earlier this week.
"But ultimately it always comes down to the individual himself about how he feels and what he wants to do with the next step of his career.
"Roberto has got to consider his future and where his commitment lies. We will see how things go the rest of the week."
Martinez, one of British football's youngest managers at 35, has earned rave reviews for his handling of Swansea in his first two years in the role.
Promotion from League One as champions was followed last season by a highly creditable eighth-place finish in their first year back at Championship level.
That success has been achieved through an exciting brand of attacking, skilful football that has seen the Spaniard also linked with managerial jobs at the likes of Real Sociedad and Reading.
Martinez has denied quotes attributed to him in newspapers north of the border that he is interested in joining Celtic and refused to discuss his situation.
"The quotes are false," he told BBC Wales. "I didn't speak with anyone. The only person who can speak about the situation is my chairman."
Martinez is no stranger to football north of the border, having played for Motherwell in the 2001/2 season, while his long-term girlfriend is Scottish.
Gordon Strachan, who left Celtic last week after four years at the helm, is believed to have recommended Motherwell's Mark McGhee as his successor.
Everton manager David Moyes has ruled out any return to Scotland at the moment.
But former Portsmouth manager Tony Adams claims he is in line for the role if Wim Jansen returns to Celtic Park as technical director.
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