Talks between Trent Barrett's manager and "four or five" NRL clubs have stalled because English Super league club Wigan still haven't officially released the former Test five-eighth.

Barrett's manager Wayne Beavis said he was still waiting for an official release from Wigan and was unable to enter into formal talks with NRL clubs without one.

"It hasn't gone through because I haven't got it and I made the application," Beavis told AAP.

Asked if he expected it soon, Beavis said: "I don't know, it's a matter for them. They're driving the bus unfortunately."

Barrett has asked to be released from the final year of his contract with the English club on personal grounds.

The club has said Barrett "will almost certainly leave" at the end of the Super League season.

But it has also taken the unusual step of posting a "Trent Barrett Update" on its website to placate fans of the popular playmaker.

The update says the "uncertainty" over Barrett's situation is because "discussions on compensation have not yet even started and that changes of mind can sometimes occur in these situations."

Wigan boss Ian Lenagan is due in Australia later this week.

Former St George Illawarra captain Barrett, 30, has been linked with a return to the Dragons under incoming coach Wayne Bennett, the cashed-up Bulldogs, Canberra, Cronulla and South Sydney.

Beavis said "four or five" clubs had been in touch with him regarding Barrett.

"Clubs have flagged their interest if he gets a release but there's no formal talks because it could be wasting everyone's time," Beavis said.

"It won't be a problem, he'll get a football home for sure."

Beavis said Barrett's name had come up at a recent meeting with Canberra regarding another of his clients, Wests Tigers forward Chris Heighington.

"They're still in the frame," he said.

Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg said Barrett's rumoured $400,000 price tag placed him in "the too expensive basket" but denied his club had missed the boat on league's off-contract stars.

"That doesn't mean that we'll rule it out completely because in this day and age as we can all see I don't think you can afford to rule yourself out of anybody or anyone," Greenberg told AAP.

"We're certainly not going to pay overs for players.

"The money's there but we've got to make sure we spend it wisely and get a long-term benefit out of it so we're not going to go off and just spend it for the sake of spending it.

"We're also very confident in the roster we've got coming through our system, we've got some very good kids coming through."

Asked if the club had missed out - most notably on Melbourne's Jeff Lima - he said: "Personally I don't see that because there's going to be continual changes in the market so it's a little bit like money in the bank and we'll strike when we think the right opportunity comes along."

Greenberg said the Bulldogs were still interested in out of favour Cronulla halfback Brett Kimmorley.

Heighington, meanwhile, has an offer on the table from the Tigers but has also attracted the interest of rival NRL clubs, Beavis said.

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