Manchester United are preparing to hijack Tottenham's bid for Wigan midfielder Wilson Palacios. Spurs have had a £10million offer for the 24-year-old turned down prompting interest in the Honduran from the champions.

Palacios played for Wigan at Old Trafford last night but was on the losing team as United moved up to second and within two points of Premier League leaders Liverpool after their 1-0 win.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan insisted before the match that he would not sell his player to Spurs on the cheap.

He said: "They can come back or forget it, £10m is not enough for him so we will wait and see what they do."

But Palacios's manager Steve Bruce already seems resigned to him leaving this month.

He said: "The big boys start circling and coming to nick your players and unfortunately, if they pay enough, then they are always going to get their own way."

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has been frustrated in his attempts to add to the signing of Jermain Defoe during the transfer window. He has already seen offers for Stewart Downing and Kenwyne Jones turned down by Middlesbrough and Sunderland.

He also went to Milan on Wednesday to open talks about a loan move for Inter striker Adriano, only for the forward's agent to insist the 26-year-old has no interest in going to White Hart Lane.

Redknapp was understood to be preparing a £5m bid for Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt but the Championship club want to keep the Irish international.

The 61-year-old organised a friendly behind closed doors yesterday to see free agent Stephen Appiah in action.

The Ghana international, who is looking to resurrect his career after a serious knee injury, will get another chance to impress but has no guarantee of a contract. Redknapp's search for a back-up keeper to first-choice Heurelho Gomes may also have also hit a snag with Sebastian Przyrowski's £1m switch from Polonia Warsaw on hold till the summer.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has no such concerns and is already blessed with central midfielders. Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes started last night, with Sunday's stars Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher rested.

Anderson came on as a second-half substitute and there is still Owen Hargreaves to come back, so Palacios's chances of regular football would seem limited at Old Trafford, even though Ferguson admires the player.

Of more immediate concern to the Scot is the news that striker Wayne Rooney (left) could be out for three weeks with a hamstring injury.

The England international suffered the problem shortly after scoring the winner over Wigan in the opening minute.

Ferguson said: "With a hamstring you are looking at a minimum of three weeks.

"Hopefully it is not any longer but there is nothing you can do about it."

United can go top if they win at Bolton on Saturday with Liverpool not playing until they face Everton on Monday night.

Ferguson was relieved at the end and praised Wigan for being "the best opposing team we have seen at Old Trafford this season".

He added: "I thought Wigan were absolutely fantastic. We have had to dig really deep. We have won games 1-0 before and they have gone towards some of the titles we have won."