Chelsea deal shows Wigan Athletic owners have granted Shaun Maloney’s wish: View | OneFootball

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 per cent of the squad - with us starting pre-season."

This is a clear signal to owner Mike Danson and chairman Ben Goodburn that they should help the club complete their transfer business as soon as possible.

Rankine deal shows that Latics ownership are committed to fulfilling Maloney's wish

The Latics boss is keen to continue implementing his possession-based style of football at the Brick Community Stadium, an ethos which requires a specific profile of player, which is why he is so eager to complete his transfer business as a matter of urgency.

We are only mid-way through June, and the club's ownership group has allowed Maloney to sign three players from the Premier League, including Rankine on a permanent deal, as well as both Olakigbe and Ramsay on loan.

These signings from the top-shelf of the English game should excite Latics supporters who will be hoping to see their side competing for the play-off places next season.

As a Chelsea youth academy product, Rankine had a top-class football education, while favourably for his new club, he also has League One experience to his name, after appearing 33 times for Exeter City during a loan spell last campaign.

Ramsay is also a particularly high-calibre signing for the third tier outfit, who has played in the Champions League for Liverpool, the Europa Conference League for Aberdeen, and for the Scotland national team.

Throughout Maloney's tenure so far, the Latics have maintained a good relationship with multiple Premier League clubs, and the boss will be delighted that both Brentford and Liverpool were willing to do business with his club once again this summer, after the Bees and the Reds loaned Charlie Goode and Luke Chambers respectively to the Greater Manchester side last summer.

Should the Latics be able to continue making such strong signings, an exciting 2024/25 season could be in store at the Brick Community Stadium.

The Latics still need more reinforcements

Although Wigan have undoubtedly started the transfer window in a positive manner, Maloney and co still have lots to do this summer in terms of building their squad for next season.

The Latics still have a smaller squad than the majority of their League One rivals, compiled largely of youth academy products who became first-team players during last season's transfer embargo.

In particular, the Latics must sign a new striker following the departures of Charlie Wyke, Josh Magennis and Stephen Humphrys, leaving only young strikers Josh Stones and Chris Sze at the club, who do not boast much first team experience.