"Keep Thelo Aasgaard and bring in" - Wigan Athletic dream transfer window outlined | OneFootball

Football League World asked our Wigan Athletic fan pundit what a dream but realistic last week of the transfer window would look like for the Latics

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 sit 16th in the League One table following Saturday afternoon's victory over Bristol Rovers and have largely struggled for consistency this term.

The Latics have been busy in the January transfer window though, and have already welcomed the additions of versatile defender Jon Mellish, Arsenal academy product Josh Robinson, wideman Joe Hungbo, and forward Will Goodwin, who joined the club on loan from Oxford United, in a move initially reported by Football League World.

Shaun Maloney's side also facilitated the addition of midfielder Ollie Norburn on loan from Blackpool, in an effort to soften the blow left by long-term injuries suffered by the likes of Matt Smith, Tyrese Francois, and Baba Adeeko.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, the Latics also said their goodbyes to previously on-loan duo Calvin Ramsay and Joe Hugill, who were recalled by parent clubs Liverpool and Manchester United, and subsequently sent on loan to Kilmarnock and Carlisle United respectively.

The Greater Manchester club also sold young striker Josh Stones to National League promotion hopefuls York City, in another move that was originally detailed by an FLW exclusive.

But while the Latics have already carried out plenty of business this month, we asked our Wigan fan pundit, Corey Bissell, what a dream but realistic last week of the transfer window would look like for Maloney's men.

Wigan fan pundit details dream transfer window

Corey said: "A dream, but realistic end to Wigan's transfer window is probably more about who we keep, and who we let go, rather than who we bring in.

"Obviously, Thelo Aasgaard keeps having his name thrown around with moves away, so keeping hold of him, although it's kind of out of our control with his release clause, keeping hold of him is essential.

"Out, I'd like to see the likes of Chris Sze go out on loan, maybe Jack Reilly from the youth academy, a few of our younger players who need minutes go out on loan.

"Maleace Asamoah's another one I think could benefit from a nice loan to League Two.

"Brendan Wiredu's a name that we've been linked to tenuously, we've been said to put a bid in for him.

"I'm not sure if the incomings of Jon Mellish and Ollie Norburn will kill that.

"But our midfield problems, despite bringing in Norburn and Mellish, aren't quite fixed yet, we've been absolutely ravaged by fairly long-term injuries.

"Maloney mentioned in the week that Ollie Norburn has been thrown into the squad, and played almost all the minutes since he arrived, so bringing in back up, in the form of Brendan Wiredu, would be a great little pickup.

"A dream, maybe a striker as well.

"Maloney's said that the chances are we're not going to have the budget to bring in another striker in January, which is fair.

"I think everybody wants a 20-goals-a-season striker as if they grow on trees, but that's not the case, especially not in a January transfer window.

"So, an absolute dream, maybe a few players out on loan, keep Thelo Aasgaard and bring in Brendan Wiredu and maybe a striker as well."

Keeping Aasgaard is vital for Latics

As alluded to by Corey, the Latics are currently dealing with a host of injuries to central midfielders, so another addition in that area of the field could be ideal.

Meanwhile, the Latics made a bid for Fleetwood Town's versatile midfielder Wiredu earlier this month, as per Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke via X.

But more importantly, Maloney's men will hope that they can retain the services of Aasgaard, who has scored 12 goals and produced two assists in 31 appearances across all competitions so far this season.

However, keeping the Norway under-21 international could prove easier said than done for the Latics, due to the fact that Premier League Nottingham Forest are interested in landing his services, as per Alan Nixon, who also separately reported that Championship Stoke City are also keen on acquiring his services.

Furthermore, Latics boss Maloney recently hinted that there is a release clause in Aasgaard's current contract at the Brick Community Stadium, so his destiny really could be beyond Wigan's control.