Wigan’s recent transfer business shows how committed the club’s ownership are to delivering success for Shaun Maloney Wigan Athletic have started the transfer window in a positive manner, and completed the permanent signing of Dion Rankine from Chelsea on Wednesday. Prior to the signature of attacking wing-back Rankine, the Latics completed loan deals for Premier League duo Michael Olakigbe and Calvin Ramsay from Brentford and Liverpool respectively. Following a difficult season last time out, which involved a transfer embargo and an eight-point deduction, it is imperative that the Latics endure a successful summer if they are to launch a 2024/25 promotion bid.
With this in mind, manager Shaun Maloney recently told Wigan Today: “I would like to have as much of the squad – 90 percent of the squad – with us starting pre-season.”
This is a clear indication to owner Mike Danson and chairman Ben Goodburn that they should assist the club in completing its transfer transaction as quickly as feasible.
The Rankine deal demonstrates that Latics ownership is determined to fulfilling Maloney’s goal. The Latics manager wants to continue implementing his possession-based style of football at the Brick Community Stadium, which demands a specific type of player, which is why he is anxious to conclude his transfer business as soon as possible.
We are just halfway through June, and the club’s ownership group has permitted Maloney to recruit three Premier League players, including Rankine on a permanent contract and Olakigbe and Ramsay on loan.
These acquisitions from the highest tier of the English game should thrill Latics fans, who will be eager to see their team compete for the play-offs next season.
Rankine received a top-tier football education as a Chelsea youth academy product, and he also has League One experience after appearing 33 times for Exeter City on loan last season, which benefits his new club.
Ramsay is also a very high-profile addition for the third-tier club, having previously played in the Champions League for Liverpool, the Europa Conference League for Aberdeen, and for the Scotland national side.
Throughout Maloney’s tenure, the Latics have maintained positive relationships with several Premier League clubs, and the manager will be pleased that both Brentford and Liverpool were willing to do business with his club again this summer, after the Bees and Reds loaned Charlie Goode and Luke Chambers to the Greater Manchester side last summer.
If the Latics can keep making such great acquisitions, the Brick Community Stadium might be in for an entertaining season in 2024/25.
The Latics still require more troops.
Although Wigan have clearly started the transfer window well, Maloney and his team still have a lot of work to do this summer in terms of preparing their squad for the following season.
The Latics’ squad remains smaller than the rest of their League One competitors, consisting primarily of youth academy graduates who became first-team players during last season’s transfer embargo.
Following the departures of Charlie Wyke, Josh Magennis, and Stephen Humphrys, the Latics are left with just youthful forwards Josh Stones and Chris Sze, who lack first-team experience.
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