Considering Wigan Athletic’s 2023/24 season was prefaced by a series of off-field issues, uncertainties and changes, I think it’s fair to say we have done a very decent job. Shaun Maloney, Gregor Rioch, the rest of the staff and the players have pulled together to achieve a 12th-placed finish in League One, achieving the main goal of survival and setting some foundations for what is to come.
The wider context of the issues faced by Latics can be found in my recently released Season Review article, so be sure to check that out by clicking this link. It explains in greater depth the struggles we faced last summer and how we have gone about rectifying things both on and off the football pitch. I’d urge you to read that if you have not already, and then return to this!
On the face of things, this summer will be as big if not bigger than the last in terms of a rebuild. We have several senior players out of contract, numerous loanees set to return to their parent clubs and a few contracted players who are expected to attract serious interest during the transfer window.
In this article, and the three others within my ‘Squad Review’ series, I’m going to analyse the performances of all our first teamers, academy players and those who have spent the campaign out on loan, and discuss whether or not I believe their future is best served at Wigan Athletic.
I’ll be covering it all; their wages, transfer value, ability and profile, suitability to Shaun Maloney’s system and more. There will be no stone left unturned.
Strap in, and enjoy.
Disclaimer – Nobody outside of the club truly knows the wages of the players so don’t take what I say they are as gospel. I’m using a couple of trustworthy websites as sources but whether their figures have taken into account the hefty wage increases the players received after winning promotion I’m not sure, so it could easily be even more than what I say!
Attacking Midfielders
Thelo Aasgaard
AGE: 22
CONTRACT: 2028
TRANSFER VALUE: £1,000,000 – £2,500,000
WAGE: £2,500 p/w
Player Summary
Evaluating Thelo Aasgaard’s season is quite difficult, because it’s difficult to work out what was expected of him before the season began. Despite being 22 the Norwegian youth international is one of the more experienced players in our squad with well over 100 appearances for the club, and there was hope he’d dominate at this level.
It’s probably fair to say he hasn’t ‘dominated’ many games, but we’ve definitely seen major improvement in important parts of his game. His tactical intelligence has come on leaps and bounds, and I’ve loved seeing how much better he is at positioning himself in dangerous areas in the box.
If I’m being critical he has to be more clinical with the possession he gets. I want to see him creating space, chances and shooting opportunities on a regular basis, not just showing moments of brilliance once or twice a game that don’t lead to major moments. He’s technically gifted beyond belief, it’s now time to turn that ability into goals and assists. I want 10+ in both next season. That’s not unrealistic at all.
Martial Godo
AGE: 21
CONTRACT: 2024 (LOAN)
TRANSFER VALUE: £3,000,000 – £5,000,000
WAGE: £2,000 p/w
Player Summary
I think we need to analyse Martial Godo’s season pre and post-injury. The Fulham loanee was scintillating when he first arrived at the club and looked a class apart from most players in the division. He then picked up a nasty injury in the FA Cup game at York City, and in truth has struggled to hit the heights of his early-season form.
We haven’t had a player like Martial in a while, which I think is what made him so exciting when he first arrived. He had a sort of egotistical confidence about him, probably born out of his electric form in PL2 prior to us signing him, and put in some remarkable performances. I’ll always remember, and kind of laugh at, his showing at home to Fleetwood. He literally took the piss from minute one… sensational stuff.
The second half of the season has been less impressive, and he’s gone from being a player destined for at least the Championship next season to someone I wouldn’t be surprised to see back in League One. There’s lots to like about the youngster, and I’m sure he’ll have a good career. He needs to be challenged elsewhere though I reckon.
Callum McManaman
AGE: 33
CONTRACT: 2024
TRANSFER VALUE: £0 – £50,000
WAGE: £2,000 p/w
Player Summary
The Return of the Mac has been so much better than I could ever have imagined. We obviously all knew what a legend he was in his pomp, but after so long away from football I wasn’t sure he’d make a huge impact on our first team. I thought his work would mainly have been done off the pitch, inspiring youngsters and setting high standards.
In reality he’s been a key member of our squad and has won us games on his own with moments of genuine brilliance. When he turns it on there is genuine Premier League quality in his boots. That might sound daft about a bloke who was released by Tranmere and spent a year with his feet up, but Wigan fans know it’s true.
Getting him contracted to the club for next season should be high on our priority list. He raises the atmosphere in the crowd, he raises the tempo of the game he plays in and he raises the performance levels of his teammates. He’s our own Duracell Bunny. He’s a maniac, but he’s our maniac. What a legend.
Jonny Smith
AGE: 26
CONTRACT: 2025
TRANSFER VALUE: £200,000 – £300,000
WAGE: £3,000 p/w
Player Summary
In last summer’s sensible transfers series I highlighted Jonny Smith as my number one target for a winger, and I feel as though that shout has been vindicated somewhat. He’s not blown me away, mainly due to injuries and other player’s form, but he’s shown glimpses of a really talented player.
He won Goal of the Season with his absolute peach at Barnsley, and won the totally unofficial yet equally elusive TalkingWigan.com Goal of the Season award for his gem of a finish at Lincoln earlier on this month. That cut in and hwhippppppp has the potential to become a bit iconic, and I hope it does.
He’s done a decent job for us as a wing back hybrid type player, albeit I don’t think that’s a position he should be used in much. If he can have a proper pre-season I’d like to think he can have a more consistent and impactful campaign. He’s a one-off profile and we need to continue to find a way to get more from him. I want those glimpses to become more regular. If they do we’ll be onto a winner.
Chris Sze
AGE: 20
CONTRACT: 2026
TRANSFER VALUE: £400,000 – £750,000
WAGE: £1,000 p/w
Player Summary
Here’s a question for you, dear reader. Would you describe the 2023/24 campaign as a ‘breakthrough’ one for Chris Sze? The 20-year-old has been involved in the first team for a few years, but this is the first year he’s had a proper run of games. He’s done quite well with it too all things considered.
I love that we’ve been using him as a no10. It allows us to combine his creativity with his natural goal scoring ability, and in the right system I really think he will thrive. There’s a rawness to his game that is expected, and be it at Latics or out on loan he needs a good 25-30 games under his belt next season.
Chris has his first league goal under his belt so that’s a weight off his shoulders, and personally I’d love to see him tested at League Two level for half a season. Naturally he’s behind Thelo in the pecking order, and with recruitment expected in that attacking midfield area I think a few months away getting regular minutes would be great. And if he stays, great. Let us see more of him, because he’s really good.
Strikers
Stephen Humphrys
AGE: 26
CONTRACT: 2024
TRANSFER VALUE: £0 – £500,000
WAGE: £7,000 p/w
Player Summary
This one is tough. The phrase ‘on his day’ is long worn out, and I kind of hate myself for using it, but on his day Stephen Humphrys is sensationally good. He’s something of an anomaly in the sense that his profile is almost impossible to replicate outside of the top echelon of world football.
Equally good with both feet, tall, strong, quick and skilful. Clinical long-distance shooter. Ball-carrying beast. You literally won’t find another player like him in the division, and while he has problems with maintaining consistency he’s the kind of player you have to be willing to take the rough with the smooth.
I’d look to extend his contract on slightly reduced terms, but am also resigned to the fact that won’t happen. His Latics career hasn’t gone as well as it should have done, and very little of that is down to him in my opinion. I’d love for the journey to continue because he has so much more to give us. We won’t improve on him if he goes I’m afraid.
Josh Magennis
AGE: 33
CONTRACT: 2024
TRANSFER VALUE: £0 – £50,000
WAGE: £6,000 p/w
Player Summary
A while ago I saw a quote about leadership that I think described Josh Magennis’ role at Wigan Athletic quite nicely. It said ‘the key to leadership is influence, not authority’, and that seems about right to me. From an on-pitch perspective, Josh Magennis hasn’t had much authority this season. He’s never been a regular starter, but that doesn’t seem to have mattered. His season has been about much more than that.
I’ve been critical of his performances at times, but my eyes have been opened to his importance in the last month or so of the season. I’m confident in saying that in a squad full of wet-behind-the-ear youngsters, Josh’s influence has been more important than anything he could have done on the pitch.
That work shouldn’t go unnoticed, and there have been some good moments on the pitch too. The truth is he can’t do a lot of things we need from a striker, and I can only see him being used as a plan C or D next season. Would a Northern Ireland international want that? It feels like the right time to part ways, but his leadership would need replacing for sure.
Charlie Kelman
AGE: 22
CONTRACT: 2024 (LOAN)
TRANSFER VALUE: £100,000 – £250,000
WAGE: £2,000 p/w
Player Summary
This feels like a little bit of a ‘right player, wrong time’ scenario. I think Charlie Kelman’s profile – a pacey last line threat with great work-rate and movement – is one we should be looking to recruit in the summer. It is absolutely what we need, I just don’t think we were ready for a player like that.
The truth is we didn’t play to his strengths until the second half at Charlton, during which he scored twice. He had moments prior to that, but it’s fair to say that was his best showing in a Wigan shirt with very little competition. Again, that’s not entirely his fault though. We weren’t exactly a striker’s dream this season.
As I say his profile is an important one to have in our squad, but you’d have to assume we’ll be looking for an upgrade on the American. He’s never been clinical in his career and we shouldn’t be spending a fee or using a loan spot on him in my opinion. He did a job for us, and I hope he finds a club that he can call home.
Summary
There are a number of players who I am expecting to leave Wigan Athletic this summer, be that at the end of their contracts, the expiration of their loans or to pursue their careers elsewhere.
The recently released financial accounts showed that we operated at a loss of £13.7million during the 2022/23 season. That is staggeringly high and we are still very much feeling the impacts of that. Our new owners have pumped lots of money into the club already and have managed to scale down the costs, but you have to assume they will be keen to see some sort of return on that investment.
The plan is to make us self-sustainable and that means if good offers come in for players in our squad they have to be considered. With this in mind I will be giving my own ‘realistic but ideal’ hopes for what this summer will look like, as well as considering what I expect to be the most likely scenario. We have to be prepared for the loss of key assets, and as such the ‘realistic’ scenario will create the framework for my Sensible Transfers articles that will be following later this summer.
My ‘Ideal’ Scenario
Keep
Thelo Aasgaard – Attacking Midfielder – £2,500 p/w
Callum McManaman – Attacking Midfielder – Renew Contract On £1,500 p/w
Jonny Smith – Attacking Midfielder – £3,000 p/w
Chris Sze – Attacking Midfielder – £1,000 p/w
Stephen Humphrys – Striker – Renew Contract On £6,000 p/w
Estimated Total Spend
£14,000 p/w Wages
£728,000 Coast For 2024/25 Season
Release
Martial Godo – Attacking Midfielder – £2,000 p/w
Josh Magennis – Striker – £6,000 p/w
Charlie Kelman – Striker – £2,000
Estimated Total Saved
£11,500 p/w Wages (Including -£1,500 On Callum McManaman and Stephen Humphrys Wages)
£598,000 Off The Yearly Wage Bill
Ideal Squad Set-Up And Financial Status
Attacking Midfielders – Thelo Aasgaard, Callum McManaman, Jonny Smith, Chris Sze (4/5)
Strikers – Stephen Humphrys (1/3)
Cost: £728,000 (£14,000 p/w) For The 2024/25 Season Which Is A 45% Decrease In Wages From £1,326,000 (£25,500 p/w)
The ‘Most Realistic’ Scenario
Keep
Thelo Aasgaard – Attacking Midfielder – £2,500 p/w
Callum McManaman – Attacking Midfielder – Renew Contract On £2,000 p/w
Jonny Smith – Attacking Midfielder – £3,000 p/w
Chris Sze – Attacking Midfielder – £1,000 p/w
Josh Magennis – Striker – Renew Contract On £4,000 p/w
Estimated Total Spend
£12,000 p/w Wages
£624,000 Cost For 2024/25 Season
Release
Martial Godo – Attacking Midfielder – £2,000 p/w
Stephen Humphrys – Striker – £7,000 p/w
Charlie Kelman – Striker – £2,000
Estimated Total Saved
£13,500 p/w Wages (Including -£2,000 p/w On Josh Magennis Wage)
£728,000 Off The Yearly Wage Bill
Ideal Squad Set-Up And Financial Status
Attacking Midfielders – Thelo Aasgaard, Callum McManaman, Jonny Smith, Chris Sze (4/5)
Strikers – Josh Magennis (1/3)
Cost: £624,000 Cost For 2024/25 Season Which Is A 53% Decrease In Wages From £1,326,000 (£25,500 p/w)
- Wigan Athletic 2024/25 Sensible Transfers – Attacking Midfielders
- Wigan Athletic 2024/25 Sensible Transfers – Centre Midfielders
- Wigan Athletic 2024/25 Sensible Transfers – Wing Backs / Wide Midfielders
- Wigan Athletic 2024/25 Sensible Transfers – Left Full Backs
- Wigan Athletic 2024/25 Sensible Transfers – Centre Backs
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