Liverpool received permission from Wigan chairman Dave Whelan to speak to Latics manager Roberto Martinez about the Reds' managerial vacancy
following the departure of Kenny Dalglish.
"If Liverpool are serious," Whelan told Sky Sports News, "then I may lose him."
Whelan said
he was meeting with the Spaniard about what to do next season when the call came.
"I did promise Roberto," said Whelan, "and I have always said when a big club comes he would have
permission to talk to them and they don't come any bigger than Liverpool."