The Latics were in a tough position at the start of the season with their points deduction but a summer takeover allowed them to bring in some new recruits. Those combined with some existing players and new academy stars helped Wigan become side far better than their final league standing would imply.
Wigan Athletic finished 12th in the League One standings after starting with a deficit of eight points. They would have finished 10th and just six points outside of the top six without their deduction.
High expectations have been raised for the upcoming season, and work on new hires has already begun.
Latics manager Maloney stated in an interview with Wigan Today that offers have been made for “three or four players.” The same amount is anticipated this week, so they’re not slowing down either.
The supervisor stated:
We’ve already received three or four bids for players, and I expect that number to rise this week. I don’t want to brag too much.
A proactive approach
Following the season, some teams could decide to take a little break before beginning their recruitment efforts. Wigan Athletic, though, is very definitely not doing that.
They should have the best opportunity of beginning the upcoming season on a positive note thanks to Maloney’s and the DW Stadium recruitment team’s proactive attitude.
Bringing in new players early gives them enough time to become acclimated to their surroundings and gel with their teammates and manager. Furthermore, it might guarantee that they outpace competitors in their hunt of highly sought-after players.
Wigan Athletic is in a strong position because of the early activity, so perhaps agreements can be finalised in the near future.
Capable of fighting for promotion?
At the beginning of the next season, Wigan Athletic will have strengthened themselves through another transfer window and season. You have to believe that puts them in the play-off conversation at the very least, given some of the advancements made over the last year.
Naturally, only time will tell what the upcoming months hold.
Unexpected transfer collapses are unpredictable, and teams higher up the league may well choose to acquire valuable players like Charlie Hughes and Sam Tickle. That would particularly hurt aspirations for a promotion.
Maloney, though, exudes confidence, and rightfully so. The Latics are in a terrific position going into this summer, and their aggressive hiring practices should make them even more formidable when the 2024–2025 season begins.
