Roberto Martinez confirmed there is no agreement with former club Wigan which prevents him from poaching their players for his new club Everton.
The Spaniard ended his four-year association with Wigan, who were relegated from the English Premier League, last week after agreeing a move to replace David Moyes as Everton manager.
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan said there was no clause inserted which would stop Martinez from bringing in some of the Latics' best players to Everton.
And Martinez now confirmed he is allowed to buy some of his former players, with the likes of Shaun Maloney, Arouna Kone, James McCarthy and Callum McManaman already linked with moves to Goodison Park.
"No, the chairman (Whelan) has been very straightforward and clear with that," Martinez said.
"He understands that there will be players leaving, not just to Everton, but they will be leaving because the Premier League is where they want to be.
"But nobody will go on the cheap, nobody will be leaving because they want to leave.
"Everyone in football has a price. He understands that any team can lose players when a club gets relegated, not just Wigan.
"The chairman at Wigan has always been very open about that. He never stops players moving and going."
One of the players thought to be interesting Martinez - Maloney - admitted his future is still up in air following Wigan's relegation to the Championship.
"I've not really thought about it. Things are pretty up in the air, like us not having a manager," Maloney told the Daily Mail.
"Our chairman spoke about players leaving and staying, and us trying to bounce right back up.
"So there's a bit of uncertainty surrounding the club but when we come back for pre-season, and get a new manager named, things will be a lot clearer."
