Everton defender Joleon Lescott is the latest to join the ranks of footballers trying to manufacture a multi-million pound transfer elsewhere.

He has handed in a transfer request at Goodison Park and yesterday was dropped from the Toffees' match squad to play a Europa Cup tie tonight by manager David Moyes for having a poor attitude.

This summer Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso have both moved to Real Madrid after expressing their desire to play for the Spanish club.

Wigan had a similar situation when Sunderland lured former manager Steve Bruce to the Stadium of Light, with the new Black Cats boss immediately going back to his old club with a bid for England Under-21 midfielder Lee Cattermole.

New Latics boss Roberto Martinez was determined to hold on to a player he saw as key to the plans he was making at the DW Stadium but in the end the player completed an £8million move to the north-east.

Whelan believes no club can keep hold of individuals who are intent on leaving.

"I am not in favour of keeping a player who wants to go or a manager who wants to go," he told Press Association Sport.

"What happens with players who are unhappy has just happened at Everton.

"There is a player who Manchester City are chasing and they are offering a lot of money for him and the lad himself knows he can double or treble his wages.

"You can't keep them once they are unsettled. They are professional footballers and only have 12 to 13 years to earn their living if they don't get injured.

"It is a short life professional footballers have and they have to be ruthless in their desire and ambition and you can't blame them because that is their living."

Whelan, speaking at the launch of his autobiography Playing To Win - the proceeds of which will go to the establishment of a new community Wigan Boys and Girls Club, has experienced the problem from both sides.

Having lost Bruce to Sunderland he then had to persuade Swansea to part with Martinez, his number one choice as replacement.

"I went to get him and in the end I did get him, although I upset the Swansea chairman (Huw Jenkins)," he added.

"I know the feeling because I had lost Steve Bruce but that's football - these managers and players move on. You can't stop it."