Wigan Athletic 2024/25 Sensible Transfers – Goalkeepers

Wigan Athletic have a huge summer ahead. After years of financial mismanagement we finally find ourselves in a stable position, from which we can build a squad capable of challenging at the top end of League One while also securing the financial future of the club.

A clear and aggressive recruitment philosophy has been implemented by Sporting Director, Gregor Rioch and Manager, Shaun Maloney. There is an emphasis on targeting younger players who have high potential, both in terms of their ability on the pitch and the money they could bring in for the club if sold on later down the line.

This has made writing this summer’s Sensible Transfers article so much more enjoyable, because I know we’re so much more likely to sign – what I would call – the right kind of player. I’ve been desperate for us to adopt this kind of recruitment policy for a while now, so this summer is going to be really exciting.

Across seven articles I will be putting forward several targets for a number of key positions that I believe would be excellent signings for Latics this summer. The scenarios and permutations of what might happen will be taken from my recent squad review articles, as well as the club’s recently released retained list.

If you haven’t already I would highly recommend you checking all of those articles out. Think of them as a ‘preview’ to these Sensible Transfers articles, as they have set the framework for the financial and positional criteria my potential targets have to fit within.

Finally, when all seven Sensible Transfers have been released there will be an additional article with an updated multi-scenario, forecasted squad depth chart alongside the rough finances involved.

Now then… let’s get cracking shall we?

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Current Options

Sam Tickle // 22-years-old // £1,000 p/w

Tom Watson // 19-years-old // £1,000 p/w

Latics are blessed with two young goalkeepers with really bright futures. Sam Tickle, an ever-present last season, has proven himself as one of the most complete number ones in the EFL, and is sure to attract interest this summer. If he is sold there will be a lot more money to play with, and I’d be keen for us to replace him with another young player with high potential.

Even if Sam Tickle stays we will still need to recruit a back up goalkeeper following Ben Amos’ exit. This should ideally be a more experienced player who can offer plenty of upside off the pitch, as well as being suitable enough to play whenever he is called upon. This is a vital piece of recruitment that should happen regardless of any outgoings.

Tom Watson could well remain as second or third choice, but I believe game time for him next season is vital. I would be wary of throwing him straight into the mix next season, and would be keen to see him tested at a higher level with a good loan move.

Budget

If Sam Tickle stays I would be looking to recruit an experienced goalkeeper on a free transfer for less than £4,000 p/w. For reference, Ben Amos reportedly earned £6,500 p/w.

If Sam Tickle leaves I would be looking for a first team goalkeeper aged under 25, and a more experienced goalkeeper for less than £10,000 p/w combined. I would be willing to pay respectable transfer fees for the first team goalkeeper, or use the loan market. The experienced goalkeeper would still be a free transfer.

Criteria

As well as having good shot-stopping ability, all goalkeepers need to be comfortable in possession and playing passes under pressure, ideally with a history of playing in similar possession-based styles. They need to be confident in their distribution across all distances, and able to start counter attacks with long kicks / throws should the opportunity arise.

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Sam Tickle Replacements

Option One – Louie Moulden (22-years-old)

I’ll start off with the negative. He’s a Bolton Wanderers fan. However, that unfortunate pre-disposition aside, Louie Moulden is a fantastic young goalkeeper, and in terms of ‘Sam Tickle replacements’ I don’t think you’ll find someone as close to our current number one as him. His excellent distribution across all distances is some of the best I’ve seen in the EFL, and he even registered five assists in the first half of the season on loan at Rochdale. He’s a playmaking goalkeeper, as mental as that may sound! Moulden is not as reliable a shot-stopper as Tickle, but still regularly pulls off ‘stunners’ with his explosive reflexes. He’s a vocal, commanding presence too, despite being at the beginning of what could prove to be an impressive career.

Realistically it will be impossible to replace Sam, but snapping up this talented young keeper for nothing would be excellent business… providing he can put his supporter loyalties to one side!

Option Two – Brian Maher (23-years-old)

Derry City’s Brian Maher looks like a wonderful goalkeeper, and has been a key part of one of The Candystripes’ best teams in many a year. He’s been a teammate of Baba Adeeko in the Ireland under 21 squad recently, and is arguably the best keeper in the Irish Premier League. Maher is right-footed and kicks well to the wings, but has a weakness with his left that can limit his options. He’s consistently outperformed the expected goals model, preventing more goals than he would be expected to based on the quality of shot faced. He’s a similar build to Sam Tickle, is equally keen to leave his line and get involved at set-pieces (which can be a weakness at times), but is very much a front-footed goalkeeper which I like.

I want confidence from a goalkeeper, because it breeds confidence with everyone in front of them. Maher brings that in abundance, as well as a good mix of shot-stopping and distribution. With his contract running out at Derry, a bargain price could be enough to secure his services.

Option Three – Jackson Smith (22-years-old)

Jackson Smith began the season as back-up to former Latics’ keeper Owen Evans, and ended it as the Walsall supporter’s Player of the Season. The former Wolves man took over the role as first-choice keeper in December and impressed with his well-rounded skillset and calm head. His efforts may not have been enough to secure The Saddlers a play-off spot, but he won Walsall points on several occasions with a number of top saves. His ability to pull off instinctive stops from close range is probably the best on this list, and he makes himself so big when closing down opponents bearing down on goal. He’s definitely more raw than the first two names on the list, but I like what I’ve seen from him.

Goalkeepers tend to improve with age, and at 22-years-old Smith has a really good base to build on. His contract is up at Walsall and he could prove a smart pick up alongside one of the senior options I’ll be suggesting shortly.

Option Four – Alex Bass (26-years-old)

Alex Bass’ career as a back-up goalkeeper is over. He began his career at Portsmouth where he struggled for regular game time, before moving to the north east to Sunderland where, again, his minutes were limited. However, a strong showing on loan at AFC Wimbledon has proven that Bass is ready for the step up, and I’m sure he’s keen to get it. 16 clean sheets and a save rate of more than 70% in his 44 games at The Dons show his quality, and that he’s a very consistent performer. I’d suggest there would be work to do on his work with the ball at his feet – he’s certainly not at the level of Louie Moulden for example – but there’s still talent there, especially with his long passes.

Bass is under contract at Sunderland so we’d have to pay a fee to bring him in, and we’d want him on a smaller wage for sure. The lure of first team football may be enough, and I believe he’s ready for the step up that we’d offer him.

Option Five – Will Dennis (22-years-old)

This one may prove to be slightly ambitious, but there’s no harm in having a bit of that. Will Dennis was on loan in the sixth tier of English football last season, and now his excellent performances have earned Kilmarnock a spot at the European table. Only one goalkeeper has prevented more expected goals than the Bournemouth loanee, and the same goes when it comes to save percentages. He’s a top performer, with excellent technical goalkeeping skills and that brave, front-footedness that I mentioned earlier. He’s not the biggest but makes up for it with wonderful anticipation, and a spring that is particularly noticeable when saving to his left. He’d be fine slotting into our system too as he’s comfortable with the ball at his feet.

The major problem with this one is a return to Kilmarnock seems likely. He’s enjoyed his time there, and all parties seem keen to make it happen. However, if it doesn’t I’d love us to attempt to loan him in as he’s a wonderful goalkeeper who will only continue to improve.

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Experienced Options

Option One – Matt Macey (29-years-old)

Shaun Maloney was responsible for bringing Matt Macey to Hibernian back in 2021, his first permanent move away from boyhood club Arsenal. The 6’6″ keeper proved shrewd business for the Edinburgh club, and was sold to Luton in 2022 having outlasted the current Latics boss at Easter Road. A commanding presence between the sticks who has a natural advantage when it comes to claiming balls in the box, Macey is also solid when it comes to making saves. He had a remarkable save percentage of nearly 80% in the 2022/23 season, which was higher than any other keeper who played more than 20 games that year. He’s more than good enough to be our number one, and would provide excellent competition for any of the options listed above.

Would Matt Macey join as a number two? Probably not in all honesty, but that’s fine. If we are unable to replace Tickle with a younger player then Macey is the man for the job, and he can provide a solid senior figure to Tom Watson who I would then use as his number two. If Tickle stays we can tempt Macey with the chance of becoming the starter as soon as our star keeper makes the move that we’re all expecting him to make.

Option Two – Scott Bain (32-years-old)

Sticking with players who Shaun Maloney has prior knowledge of, Celtic’s experienced keeper Scott Bain is next on my list. He’s spent the best part of a decade in Glasgow now and is yet to rack up 50 games for the club, so with his contract expiring this summer it could be his last chance to get out and play first team football. Now, that may not be his ambition which is fair enough, but if it is I really like the idea of signing Bain to play for one or two years, while acting as a great influence to Tom Watson and any other talented young keepers we may have at the club during that time. He’s a well-rounded shot-stopper who can play a bit too, and has bags of experience at one of Britain’s biggest clubs.

A wage cut would be required, and I imagine he would need some convincing to leave his home north of the border. That said, if he wants game time and a potential route into coaching, we can offer it.

Option Three – Remi Matthews (30-years-old)

If I’m being completely honest with you I can’t work out whether this is a totally unrealistic shout, or a under the radar suggestion who could actually work. On paper, Remi Matthews is a goalkeeper in the prime years of his career at a Premier League club, but in reality he played one game all season and is, at best, third choice. There’s no doubt he’s a good goalkeeper though, and would definitely start in League One for us. To add a player of his experience would be a coup, and with a good few years left in his prime I hope he’d be motivated by the opportunity to play. He’d be fine playing out from the back, but maybe lacks the range of passes of others on this list. He’s a more traditional goalkeeper for sure, and makes saves regularly and well.

I should add, he was the Bolton keeper when we beat them 5-2, and he did make THAT mistake. However, he is a good keeper, believe me, and could be a smart signing to secure the position until Tom Watson is ready to step up.

Option Four – Max Stryjek (27-years-old)

Considering the fact Max Stryjek has had two very solid seasons at Adams Park it may have come as a surprise to see him released by Wycombe Wanderers. The Polish keeper has taken his spot between the sticks in more than 70 games across the last two seasons, keeping 23 clean sheets and preventing more than ten goals according to the xG model. He’s shown himself to be more than capable of occupying a starting role at the level, while providing excellent leadership qualities as a number two. In interviews he appears to be well thought of by his peers, and as he approaches his prime I’m sure he still has lots to give on and off the field. He’s willing to try and play out from the back, and does it well enough for me to be comfortable imagining him in our side.

I think we could definitely attract a player like Max to Latics, and unlike some others on the list I imagine he’d be more willing to play second fiddle if required. I want us to have two goalkeepers who really push each other, and Stryjek would raise the levels of our group for sure.

*This was written before the Crewe vs Doncaster play-off semi-final, so I’m back here to say… I was right! Sign him up!

Option Five – Stuart Moore (29-years-old)

Unlike the others on this list who could very easily sign with ambitions of being first choice, Stuart Moore is an option I’m putting forward as an experienced back up. He’s a player who has spent the majority of his career in the EFL, and appears to be well thought of at his former clubs (other than Luton). He started last season wonderfully at Morecambe before being ruled out for the season by injury, cutting what looked like being his best season to date short in October. If he can rediscover those levels he’d provide great competition for our first choice keeper, as well as a good level of experience that he can pass on to his fellow keepers and the squad as a whole.

It’s hard suggesting options that, all being well, will essentially not play for Wigan, but Stuart Moore seems like a good choice for what we want from a number two. Cheap, local and does everything we will need him to do. It might not be particularly quirky, but I wouldn’t mind it at all.

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Conclusion

Being totally transparent, the best way to replace Sam Tickle should we sell him is by loaning him back from whichever, hopefully, Premier League club snaps him up. That would be ideal, and potentially realistic, so we should try that first.

If he stays we obviously don’t need a replacement as such, but I’d still be looking at Louie Moulden and Brian Maher as long-term options to fill the void when he does go. For me they’re the two best keepers on this list, and if the opportunity arises to bring them in we should do so without hesitation. Jackson Smith is a goalkeeper who, assuming Tickle departs, we should bring in alongside a senior option like Scott Bain or Remi Matthews, who would initially take the role as first choice while allowing the former Walsall man time to acclimatise to the level. Alex Bass, Matt Macey and Max Stryjek could all play the role of first choice or back up, but may be searching for more commitment when it comes to game time. Will Dennis would walk into most League One teams, but looks set for a return to Kilmarnock after an exceptional season there. In terms of experienced number twos, Stuart Moore would be an obvious upgrade on Ben Amos on the pitch, while providing similar qualities off it. If Sam Tickle stays he’d be the one I’d sign to back him up.

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Scenario One

Sam Tickle is sold, and money is made available to sign two goalkeepers permanently on less than £10,000 p/w combined

Scenario Two

Sam Tickle is sold, but both new keepers must be signed for free on less than £10,000 p/w

Scenario Three

Sam Tickle is sold, Tom Watson is promoted to the first team and only one goalkeeper is needed, for less than £4,000 p/w

Scenario Four

Sam Tickle is sold but loaned back, and we have to sign one goalkeeper to play back-up for a season on less than £4,000 p/w

Scenario Five

Sam Tickle stays, and a back up goalkeeper is needed for less than £4,000 p/w

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Final Thoughts

Fair play if you have made it here! No one really knows what is going to happen at Latics this summer, but one thing that feels certain is that finances and sales will heavily dictate what unfolds in the coming months.

With Shaun Maloney and Gregor Rioch leading some smart recruitment, whatever financial deficit has to be covered this transfer window, if we go about things smartly, we can still be a competitive outfit on the pitch and push on from last season.

I have full faith we will do the right things as a club, and we are lucky to have the talented coaching staff in place who want to be at Wigan Athletic. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed. Up the Tics!