Roberto Martinez has told Chelsea he would rather lose Victor Moses on a free next summer than let them buy him on the cheap.
The European champions have yet to meet Wigan’s asking price of just under £10million, so Moses is now set to face his prospective Stamford Bridge team-mates in Sunday's lunchtime's season-opener.
And Latics boss Martinez says his club will not cave in over a player bought from Crystal Palace in January 2010 for £2.5m.
“Victor’s 21, he’s got a year left on his contract and my chairman is always very clear,” he said.
“We would rather have Victor for a year rather than selling him under his value.
“We don’t have to sell players, so we will never undervalue players.
"We will never stand in the way of players who want to move on to other projects - let’s say a player who can move on and try and win the Premier League - but in football, and in life in general, if you want something, you have to meet the valuation.
"Until that happens, it’s not an issue.
“Remember, we made a huge investment in Victor when he was 19 and in the Championship, which other clubs wouldn’t.
"We will never undervalue one of the biggest talents in this league. Clubs must respect that.”
Martinez is confident Moses will be fully committed to Wigan’s cause in Sunday's match, even though he could become a Chelsea player within hours of the final whistle.
“From Victor’s point of view, he’s fit and available and if anyone can cope with anything from a mental point of view then it’s Victor,” said the Spaniard.
“When he came from Crystal Palace at the age of 19, he was desperate straight away to play - I have never seen such a mature young man.
“Victor is a strong man who has been through many things in his life already. He loves the game and once he gets on the pitch, the world stops for him.”
* WIGAN striker Conor Sammon is on his way to Championship side Derby for £1.2m.