Both newly promoted Premier League clubs, Leicester and Burnley, have expressed an interested in the Scotland international midfiedler.
Offers up to the value of £5 million have been tabled with the Latics said to be holding out for £6 million for the energetic midfielder.
Chairman Dave Whelan revealed to the BBC that a deal is close. "We need the right offer," Whelan told BBC Radio Leicester.
"I don't want to stop the lad from going into the Premier League. What they offered was good, but not quite to our expectations.
"We have to get enough money to get the necessary replacement. There is bound to be more offers from other Premier League clubs or Leicester because he is such a tough, quality player."
The news comes on the same day that Adam Forshaw was in talks with the Latics over a move from Brentford.