Wigan Athletic keen on striker previously eyed by Derby County and Wrexham | OneFootball

Wigan Athletic are interested in signing Cliftonville player Ronan Hale.

Wigan Athletic are interested in signing Cliftonville striker Ronan Hale, as Shaun Maloney looks to strengthen his side for the new season.

That is according to the Belfast Telegraph, which states that the Latics have identified the Irishman as a potential target, with Maloney keen to add to his squad over the coming weeks.

Wigan were unable to pose the threat they would have liked to in League One last season, as they were still being punished for off-field matters.

Several point deductions meant the Latics started the campaign on the back foot, and in the end, it resulted in them missing out on the play-offs.

However, it was a respectable 12th place finish for Maloney’s side, and the Scotsman will now be keen on taking his side further up the table, and to do so, they will need new additions, with Hale said to be one they are keeping an eye on.

This isn’t the first time that Cliftonville striker Ronan Hale has emerged on the radar of EFL clubs.

It was reported by Football Insider back in January that teams such as Portsmouth, Derby County, Bolton Wanderers, Blackpool, Peterborough United, and Wrexham were all plotting moves for the player.

Nothing materialised for Hale involving any of these clubs, and instead the striker stayed in Northern Ireland.

But it now appears as though Wigan Athletic could be about to take advantage of that situation, as according to the Belfast Telegraph, they are interested in signing Hale.

The report states that Wigan have identified the player as a potential target this summer, but they do face competition, as Scottish side Ross County have already seen a bid rejected for the player.

Ronan Hale’s 2023/24 stats

Ronan Hale started his football career at Cliftonville’s under-18s, but he soon left the club to move to England and join Birmingham City.

The striker played for the club’s under-18s and under-21s, with him then being sent out on loan to Derry City in 2018.

He stayed with the Irish side for a year before he returned to Birmingham, but not long later he was let go by the club, and Hale joined Crusaders on a free transfer.

He stayed with them for six months before he joined St. Pat’s, where he played for a season before joining Northern Irish side Larne FC, and after two years with them, he then joined Cliftonville.

Hale has been a regular goalscorer for Cliftonville since joining the club, with him really impressing for the club once again last season as he scored 21 goals in all competitions.

Ronan Hale could be a very smart signing for Wigan

Ronan Hale is obviously a player who has been impressing in Irish and Northern Irish football for a few years now.

The striker has seemed to be among the goals wherever he has been playing, and that hasn’t gone unnoticed, as teams were circling with interest in January.

That interest may have not gone away, but it now appears as though Hale has emerged on the radar of Wigan, and the Latics could take advantage of the other club’s failure to sign the player.

Hale is a proven goalscorer, and at the age of 25, he still has plenty of years ahead of him to develop into an even better player. This may be a smart signing for the club, as he could cost them less than what they would have to pay for a striker in the Football League.