Nottingham Forest, Bristol City and Cardiff are in a battle to sign Josh Windass this month.
The Championship trio are all keen to prise the versatile Windass, 26, who can play in midfield or up front, away from Wigan before the transfer window closes next Friday.
Forest and Bristol City, who may lose midfielder and Burnley target Josh Brownhill, are right in the promotion hunt while Cardiff are 13th but only seven points off the top six.
A move to any of his suitors would see Windass, son of former striker Dean, make a considerable climb up the table with Wigan currently second bottom of the Championship.
Windass is valued at around £500,000. He began his professional career at Accrington Stanley before earning a move to Rangers following their return to the Scottish Premiership in 2016.
He spent two seasons in Scotland north of the border before returning south to join Wigan. His current Latics contract expires next summer.