Wigan Athletic have completed the loan signing of Luton Town utility man Glen Rea on deadline day. The 27 year old arrives at the club having played just 704 minutes of league football this season, with the majority of those seeing him utilised at the base of Luton’s midfield. So what will Rea offer to Leam Richardson’s side?
Rea is a ball winning midfielder that is also more than capable of dropping into CB if needed. At 6’1 he offers a similar physical presence to Tom Naylor whilst also possessing the attributes that suit the ‘get it and give it’ style of our midfield.
And the 27 year old’s defensive figures from this season are well worth looking at. Rea averages 1.41 tackles won per 90 this season (top 50 in the league for players with a minimum of 700 minutes), as well as 2.31 interceptions per 90 (7th best in the league for players with a minimum of 700 minutes). These stats are very similar to Tom Naylor’s and you’d expect Rea to be able to replicate and perhaps even exceed his numbers in the division below.
Glen Rea will add to the wealth of experience Latics have in the centre of the pitch, and provides knowhow on getting out of League 1. He is sure to offer us defensive security and physicality, albeit not adding much in terms of creativity and ball progression. Perhaps the most important thing Rea offers is the ability to rotate a key player in Tom Naylor out and replace him practically like for like, something we haven’t been able to do really this season.
We are signing a player in the prime years of his career with experience of getting promoted from League 1, and given the fee and wages aren’t expected to be eye-catchingly high I’m sure it’ll be a good signing for the Tics.
Talking Wigan 