Who is Thelo Aasgaard? The Wigan Athletic ace wanted by Nottingham Forest | OneFootball

FLW outline all you need to know regarding Nottingham Forest target and Wigan Athletic star Thelo Aasgaard.

Nottingham Forest have been linked with a move for Wigan Athletic star Thelo Aasgaard ahead of the January transfer window next month.

They have been keeping tabs on the Norway U-21 international in recent weeks ahead of the winter window opening, according to Alan Nixon. It is said that the 22-year-old could be bought for around £3 million and Forest's recruitment team will make their decision on whether to make a concrete move for the attacking midfielder in the near future.

Forest aren't the only club keen on Aasgaard, as Nixon reported in November that Championship side Stoke City are keen on moving for him in the mid-season transfer window. Blackburn Rovers are understood to have had a bid turned down in the summer but the feeling is that the Potters are likely to outbid their second tier rivals.

But just who is Wigan's young midfielder? We take a look at all you need to know, here.

Thelo Aasgaard's career so far

Aasgaard was born 2 May 2002 in Liverpool, England, and is of Norwegian descent through his father, and of French descent through his mother. He joined the youth academy of Wigan in 2016, having previously been a part of the youth set-up at Liverpool from 2010-16.

He impressed at youth level but ended up being fast-tracked into the first-team due to Wigan's administration during the 2019/20 season and their subsequent relegation from the Championship. He joined the squad for the club's 2020/21 League One campaign at the age of 18.

Aasgaard made his senior debut for Wigan under less-than-ideal circumstances, with plenty of concerns behind the scenes in what was a crucial time for the club following their financial struggles and relegation from the Championship. However, in spite of the off-field issues surrounding Wigan, Aasgaard quickly became a standout player, showcasing his dribbling skills, vision, and composure on the ball in the senior game instantly.

He made his professional debut with Wigan in a 1-0 EFL League One loss at home to Peterborough United on 20 October 2020. Not long after, he scored his first goal for the Latics during a 2-1 defeat against Oxford United on 21 November 2020. Aasgaard ended his first season having played 35 times in all competitions, including 13 league starts, as he helped his club keep their place in League One.

He began playing senior games before he had even penned his first professional contract. Then, in January 2021, Aasgaard signed his first professional deal with Wigan, signing until the summer of 2023. After an even more exciting start to the 2021/22 season, he signed an improved four-and-a-half-year contract, running until June 2026. He has since extended further, with his contract ending in 2028 at the Brick Community Stadium.

Since then, he has established himself as a key member of a young side, alongside the likes of Sam Tickle and the recently departed Charlie Highes. His ability to play in various attacking and midfield roles, whether as a central midfielder, winger, or attacking midfielder, has made him an invaluable asset to the team.

He has even operated as a makeshift striker in the current season in the absence of Joe Hugill and Dale Taylor for the first extended period of his career, with Aasgaard able to hold his own at 6'2" in height. He has come up with important goal contributions on numerous occasions but one of the most notable moments came in the 2021/22 FA Cup when he scored a stunning last-minute winner against Blackburn Rovers, further highlighting his flair for the dramatic.

More than anything, he has gained recognition for his maturity on the pitch despite his young age. His composure in tight spaces, combined with his quick decision-making, allows him to control the tempo of games and create opportunities for his teammates. While he also possesses an eye for goal and has had to develop quickly to the speed of senior football, even scoring three times at Championship level in the 2022/23 campaign.

His performances have drawn attention from higher-tier clubs, and as he continues to develop, Aasgaard is regarded as one of Wigan's brightest prospects with a promising future ahead of him.

He has become a key individual for Wigan over the last couple of seasons and notched up 163 appearances at the age of just 22, primarily playing as an attacking midfielder and chipping in with a number of goal contributions, but he has also elected to represent Norway at youth level despite being born in England and having a French mother as well.

He represented the Norway U-16 team three times in 2018, but was then called up in August 2021 to the U-20 team for the first time, and made his debut on the right of midfield in their 1-1 draw with Germany U-20 in September. Since June 2023, the 22-year-old has featured 11 times for the U-21 team, scoring twice. His next step will be to play alongside Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland for the senior team.

As Wigan continue to rebuild following their financial challenges, Aasgaard’s development has been one of the club’s bright spots. His consistent performances have made him a fan favourite and there’s growing anticipation that he could make a step up to a higher level in the near future.

It's fair to say he is one of the club's standout players and will soon outgrow League One. Last season, he produced a career-best return of nine goals and four assists in 39 appearances in all competitions, but he already looks set to smash that this term.

So far this campaign, Aasgaard has scored seven goals in 21 appearances for Wigan across all competitions, with five goals in 18 League One outings and one goal in each of the EFL Cup and FA Cup.

Per Transfermarkt, he has been deployed as an attacking midfielder or centre-forward in 15 of those games, with another three off the left flank and one in central midfield.

The Latics are neither creative nor goal-heavy but Aasgaard is the brightest spark so he could be the key single-handedly to their success this term, and that includes providing both the goals and assists needed to push up the league table in time.

If he continues on his current trajectory, Aasgaard could become a key player for both club and country, with a senior call-up not likely to be far away if he moves up a division. However, a move to Nottingham Forest or further up the EFL via Stoke City may be what is required to further his career and fulfill his potential.