Wigan Athletic backed to sign Walsall player and Luke Offord | OneFootball

FLW's Wigan Athletic fan pundit has named two players the club should push to sign before 1 September

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Wigan Athletic have been quite active in the summer transfer market so far this year.

The Latics are looking to build a team capable of improving on their 15th-place finish in League One in the previous campaign.

Ryan Lowe will be hoping that additions like Dara Costelloe, Morgan Fox, Fraser Murray and Christian Saydee will bring the team closer to a promotion challenger.

With the market still open until 1 September, Wigan’s business may not be finished there either, with there still being plenty of time for further incomings and outgoings.

Wigan urged to sign Connor Barrett and Luke Offord

When asked which two signings he’d like the club to make before 1 September, FLW’s Wigan fan pundit Corey Bissell named Walsall’s Connor Barrett and MK Dons’ Luke Offord.

He believes a new right-wing-back may be needed due to Isaac Mabaya’s injury suffered on Wednesday evening, and that a new centre-back was a must even before James Carragher also went down with a fitness issue.

“One of them, I’d go to Connor Barrett at Walsall at wing-back, obviously, as Mabaya went down injured in the EFL Cup against Notts County [on Wednesday],” Bissell told Football League World.

“So we’re going to need to go and get a replacement at right-wing-back to support Fraser Murray, and Connor Barrett would be the perfect player for that.

“Fraser Murray can also play on the left as well, so I’m sure Barratt wouldn’t be short of game time there.

“And then probably a centre-back. James Carragher is already injured, and we needed a centre-back anyway.

“We definitely do now, maybe Luke Offord at MK Dons.

“I really wanted us to sign him before he went from Crewe to MK, and he had a solid season in League Two last year.

“It might be hard to prise a player off MK in the current standings and where they’re at, but you never know.

“If you can go and do that, Luke Offord would be a really good right-sided centre-half.”

Next up for Wigan is a home clash against Peterborough United on 16 August.

Defensive depth would be a boost for Wigan

Injuries striking so early in the campaign can be a positive because the window is still open, and it gives the club a chance to react.

It has highlighted that some extra defensive depth is needed before the market shuts, as Wigan are now looking light in that area.

Barratt could be a promising addition if they can strike a deal with Walsall, as he is still only 21 and his performances in League Two have been quite promising.