Our man Bernard Platt was in and among the crowd at the Brick Community Stadium as Wigan Athletic’s supporters took in the visit of Crawley Town.
Shaun Maloney outlines Wigan Athletic transfer strategy ahead of deadline
The Latics boss has brought in 10 players already this summer in the shape of permanent signings Will Aimson, Toby Sibbick, Dion Rankine and Tyrese Francois, loan captures Luke Chambers, Calvin Ramsay, Michael Olakigbe, Silko Thomas and Joe Hugill, as well as new player/goalkeeping coach Andy Lonergan.
However, having lost 14 senior players – Ben Amos, Sean Clare, Tom Pearce, Liam Morrison, Kell Watts, Charlie Goode, Liam Shaw, Jordan Jones, Stephen Humphrys, Martial Godo, Charlie Wyke, Josh Magennis, Charlie Kelman and Hughes – since the end of last term, Maloney is still actively looking for reinforcements.
Having only initially wanted to add an experienced striker, Maloney revealed recently he also wants a ‘hard man’ figure in midfield.
And with Blackburn reportedly sniffing around Thelo Aasgaard, it could be a hectic next few days.
When asked by Wigan Today if he expected to be busy, Maloney replied: “Yeah I am. I spoke to you a few weeks ago, and it might have been different back then.
“But the way the league games have gone, they’ve shown me we might need different profiles.
“We played Reading, who last year were a really good football team, and this year their long ball hurt us, and it was the same Charlton. So yeah, I’m expecting to be really busy, we need to be.
Latics recently banked millions following the sale of star defender Charlie Hughes to Hull City.
While Maloney is not actively looking for a like-for-like replacement for the Young England man, he says some of the Hughes money will be made available to him.
