Wigan Athletic's intriguing summer transfer window predicted with Newcastle, Portsmouth and QPR deals

It has been a challenging start to the season for Shaun Maloney and Wigan Athletic.

Despite being active in the summer transfer window, the Latics are yet to claim a win in their three games in all competitions so far this season and head into Saturday’s home game with League One newcomers Crawley Town in the relegation zone. Of course, there is little need to panic just yet and, with just two league games played, there is still plenty of time to begin creating some momentum.

But an underwhelming defeat at home to Charlton Athletic on the opening day of the season, last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Reading and the Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Barnsley may well have left Maloney to consider bringing in more new faces before the summer transfer window closes for business next Friday night. We here at 3AddedMinutes were curious as to how the next week could play out for the Latics - so we fired up Football Manager 2024, updated the Wigan squad to its present form, and allowed the world’s most popular managerial simulation to predict who could arrive and who could depart the club over the coming days.

Goalkeepers

There were no chances to the Latics goalkeeping ranks as Maloney resisted the temptation to sell Sam Tickle after the once-capped England Under-21 stopper received interest from several Championship clubs including Middlesbrough, Plymouth Argyle and Oxford United.

Maloney’s goalkeeping options: Watson, Lonergan, Tickle.

Defenders

There were two late sales from the Latic defensive options and they raked in around £800k in funds that would be spent immediately. Firstly, on the final day of the transfer window, Jason Kerr was allowed to join Barnsley in a £400k deal before Steven Sessegnon followed hours later to join Championship club Swansea City for the same fee. There was just one replacement for the duo as the Latics raided the second tier to sign Portsmouth centre-back Conor Shaughnessy in a £350k move.

Maloney’s defensive options: Ramsey, Robinson, Carragher, Sibbick, Chambers, Reilly, Shaughnessy.

Midfielders

There were no departure in the middle of the park but there were two new additions as Maloney handed over £150k to sign Queens Park Rangers veteran Jack Colback before landing Newcastle United youngster Joe White in a £350k deal.

Maloney’s midfield options: Adams, Sze, Rankine, McHugh, S Smith, M Smith, Francois, Adeeko, Colback, White.

Forwards

After taking Manchester United striker Joe Hugill, Leicester City’s Saiko Thomas and Brentford winger Michael Olakigbe on season-long loan deals, Maloney decided to stick with his current options in the final third.

Maloney’s forward options: Stones, Hugill, Thomas, McMananman, Smith, Olakigbe.

Ins

Francois (free transfer), Lonergan (free transfer), Sibbick (undisclosed from Hearts), Rankine (undisclosed from Chelsea), Aimson (undisclosed from Exeter City), Ramsey (loan from Liverpool), Chambers (loan from Liverpool), Olakigbe (loan from Brentford), Hugill (loan from Manchester United), Thomas (loan from Leicester City), Colback (£150k from QPR), White (£350k from Newcastle United), Shaughnessy (£350k from Portsmouth)

Outs

Hughes (£3.5m to Hull City), Pearce, Magennis, Wyke, Amos, Jones, Humphreys (all released), Clare (undisclosed to Leyton Orient), Kerr (£400k to Barnsley), Sessegnon (£400k to Swansea City)