Wigan Athletic: Shaun Maloney reacts as Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers eye Latics stars | OneFootball

Wigan are under a bit of pressure to keep their top players in the closing stages of this window.

Wigan Athletic boss Shaun Maloney has provided an update on the transfer status of Thelo Aasgaard and Sam Tickle, amid respective interest from Blackburn Rovers.

The Latics have been the target of plenty of transfer interest this summer. They've already lost star defender Charlie Hughes to Hull City, in a deal believed to be worth £3.5 million.

Other big hitters from the squad like Stephen Humphrys and Ben Amos left as free agents earlier in the window, and now they face pressure in the latter stages of the summer for two of their star players.

Aasgaard, who has been the main provider for this team in the opening weeks of the new season, has been linked with a move to Wigan's Lancashire rivals, Blackburn, while Tickle has been tipped for an ascent to the top, with Mikel Arteta's Gunners reportedly being after him.

Time is on their side, with less than 48 hours to go in the window, but that doesn't mean that they will have to ward off some offers in the closing hours. They've already had to do that with one of the aforementioned duo.

Shaun Maloney transfer update on Thelo Aasgaard and Sam Tickle

The Latics' boss has stated that the club have rejected an offer from a second tier side for their Norwegian attacking midfielder.

"With Thelo, we had an offer from a Championship club that the owner rejected," said Maloney, via Wigan Today. "And there's been nothing since."

Arsenal's interest in Maloney's 22-year-old first choice goalkeeper only emerged publicly yesterday, but he didn't seem too worried about the Premier League interest in Tickle.

"One [James Trafford] went from Burnley to Manchester City for an enormous fee, others are playing at the top level, so I get the noise that's around him, and it's really positive.

"He's a brilliant goalkeeper and a brilliant guy...what he's done here in the last 12 months is unbelievable really.

"When I came here 18 months ago, there was very little plan for him, he was third choice. And what he's done since I've been here has been massive credit to him, and hopefully he's in the next England Under-21 squad.

"In the meantime, whatever happens, happens. Hopefully very little, because I'm desperate for him to stay."

Wigan shouldn't be worried about losing Thelo Aasgaard

While the interest from Blackburn does pose a threat to the Latics, the 22-year-old is not the only one that John Eustace's side are looking at.

Rovers look set to seal a £500,000 deal for Rangers and former Norwich City attacking midfielder Todd Cantwell, and they are also on the lookout for some more options in wide areas with Brighton & Hove Albion's Amario Cozier-Durberry reportedly being a player of interest for them, according to Alan Nixon.