The Latics can look forward to the 2024 summer transfer window
Shaun Maloney, the manager of Wigan Athletic, has managed the Latics admirably under difficult circumstances since taking over in January 2023.
The Latics were four points outside of safety and bottom of the Championship after a disastrous nine-game losing streak under Kolo Toure, when the League One team hired the former Hibernian manager.
Maloney played a part in the team’s incredible Premier League comeback in 2011–12, and eleven years later, he was left in charge of the team’s Championship status from the dugout.
At the end of the 2022–23 Championship season, Wigan was relegated back to League One due to financial uncertainty overseen by former owner Abdulrahman Al Jasmi. Despite this, supporters did not hold Maloney responsible for the team’s defeat, as the former Scotland international was unable to accomplish this difficult feat.
The team was facing an HMRC winding-up petition in the summer of 2023, which caused a great deal of anxiety. However, Mike Danson’s takeover spared the club and retained the current manager.
Maloney and company did not, however, have an easy ride in 2023–24. Deductions caused them to begin the season with a -8 record, and an embargo prevented them from signing players for two straight transfer windows, meaning the team had to rely on academy graduates.
However, the former Hibs manager was able to lead his team to an unexpected top-half finish, therefore the Latics will be hoping for a great 2024–2025 season and looking forward to the summer transfer window in 2024.
Latics supporters should be excited by Maloney’s promises
Fans are eager to see what Maloney can accomplish when his squad is not restricted by a transfer embargo because he has demonstrated that he can lead the Latics in challenging situations.
The 41-year-old recently spoke with Wigan Today on the transfer window and the 2024–25 campaign, saying, “We’ve been working on this window for a while.”
“A lot of labor-intensive work is done silently and behind the scenes.
“Many ideas are in motion, and I have a long list of desired profiles for our staff.
“I’m quite clear about the type of profile we’ll need to play the way we have been playing these past few games, which will help us improve even further.
“We won’t be at the top in terms of size or budget, and we’ll be young.” However, I’d prefer to place higher in the league and place among the top six.
“I understand that shouldn’t happen based on our budget, but I think we can surpass expectations if we play a specific strategy and hire the appropriate people.
“I believe something special will happen if we can assemble the right players, if I can make the necessary decisions, and if I can advance tactically as a manager.”
These statements from Maloney will surely thrill Latics supporters, who will be hoping that their team can secure a play-off berth in an effort to bring Championship football back to the team.
Brick Community Stadium will be excited at the manager’s statement that he is particular about the type of player he is searching for this summer and that offers have already been made for these players.
Maloney mentioned reinstalling the club’s DNA towards the end of the 2023–2024 season, and the summer transfer window presents him with his best chance to yet to accomplish this.
It can be assumed that offers for players who fit this style of play have been made by the manager since the former Celtic attacking midfielder, who played for the Latics under Roberto Martinez, has returned to Wigan with a squad full of young players and free agent signings.
Now that Maloney has the freedom to sign players who fit his mould, Latics supporters may witness a season in which their team wins a lot of games and plays a desirable brand of football reminiscent of the team’s heyday. Maloney has also hinted at the possibility of earning a 2024–25 play-off spot.
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