Wigan boss Owen Coyle insists he is under no pressure to sell reported Norwich City target Arouna Kone.

Canaries' boss Chris Hughton spoke in glowing terms last season about the powerful Ivory Coast frontman, who inflicted a 1-0 Premier League away defeat on his side back in March.

City and Everton, now managed by the 29-year-old's former Wigan boss Roberto Martinez, continue to be linked with Kone after he confirmed he had no intention of stepping down into the Championship with the relegated Latics.

Club-record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel arrives officially on July 1 and Norwich have also been heavily touted with a move for Swedish forward Ola Toivonen.

Kone reportedly has a £5m buy-out clause in a contract that still has two years left to run, but Coyle has warned potential suitors the Latics' best talent will only depart on his terms.

'Nobody has to leave on the cheap,' he said. 'If someone is leaving, it will be for the full value. Everybody has to understand that, whether it's the buying club, the representatives or the player. Do I want to lose James McCarthy and Arouna Kone? Of course I don't. If that interest comes to fruition and it's backed up by hard cash, that's something we would have to look at.'

Kone plundered 11 Premier League goals in a debut campaign last season that brought an FA Cup triumph alongside relegation, but the striker appears keen to remain in the top tier with newly-promoted Crystal Palace another potential destination.

'You always have ambitions as a footballer, and I don't intend to play in the English second division,' he said. 'Wigan have gone down, which is a real shame. It's up to them to set out their stance about my situation. I aim to play for one of the best clubs in England, and I hope I will get the chance.

'I've had plenty of approaches, I can't reveal the names of the clubs. But Crystal Palace have gone up, and from the moment a club is in the Premier League that is good for me. I'm under contract with Wigan for two more years. But if there is an offer that is good for both me and Wigan I will seek to leave.'