Wigan Athletic's stance on Derby County and Portsmouth January target revealed | OneFootball

League One duo Derby County and Portsmouth are in a battle to sign Wigan Athletic forward Callum Lang, as reported by Football Insider.

Both Derby and Portsmouth are fighting for a place in the Championship next season, and it now seems they both could be set to square off for Lang, who Wigan are said to be open to selling.

The Rams made a very slow start to this season’s League One campaign, but in recent weeks and months, they have got back on track and now look like a strong contender for a play-off spot at the very least.

Portsmouth, meanwhile, have been a standout performer throughout 2023/24 - leading the League One promotion race.

Despite a recent dip in form, Pompey are still top and look on course to potentially end their long stay in the third tier.

Both will eye this month as a chance to further strengthen their promotion bid and it seems they both have Lang on their transfer radar.

Derby County and Portsmouth eye Callum Lang

According to Football Insider, both Derby and Portsmouth are interested in signing the Latics forward.

The report states that Wigan could be open to selling the forward, with both League One sides already submitting an offer for the player.

Lang has started 19 of Wigan’s 25 league games so far this season but was named on the bench in their FA Cup tie against Manchester United on Monday night, coming on in the final 10 minutes.

This report states that both the Rams and Pompey are keen to bolster their attack this month and have identified Lang as a key addition to do just that.

It is believed that due to Wigan’s financial issues, the League One side is open to offers for the attacker in this transfer window.

Callum Lang’s stats for the 2023/24 season

Lang came through the academy at Wigan and has been part of the first team for several seasons now.

In the early days of his career, he had several loan spells away from the club, playing for the likes of Morecambe, Oldham Athletic, Shrewsbury Town, and Motherwell.

But since 2021, Lang has been firmly part of Wigan’s first team, scoring 15 goals and recording 10 assists as the Latics won promotion from League One in the 2021/22 season.

The forward struggled to replicate that form in the Championship last season, while in this campaign Lang has been a regular starter but has struggled in front of goal.

The 25-year-old, who has captained the side on several occasions, has two goals and two assists to his name in League One.

Callum Lang would be a good addition for Derby County or Portsmouth

Lang has struggled this season for Wigan, but there is no doubt, at League One level, especially, he is a very good player.

Both Derby and Portsmouth are looking at ways of improving their attack and giving themselves a different option, and Lang can certainly do that.

The 25-year-old can operate down the middle as well as on either side, so he could be a real boost to either of these sides. Wigan will want to keep the player, and given he is under contract until the summer of 2025, the Latics are under no pressure to sell.