Wigan Athletic 2024/25 Sensible Transfers – Left Full Backs

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 across 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

Luke Robinson // 22-years-old // £1,000 p/w

Steven Sessegnon // 23-years-old // £4,500 p//w

Tom Pearce’s exit does leave us light at left back, with Luke Robinson the only natural option for the position. He returns to the club after a decent loan spell north of the border with St. Johnstone and should be ready to fight for a regular first team spot. However, he can’t do the job on his own for a full season. Steven Sessegnon is capable of playing on the left too, but I prefer him as a right back / right wing back where he’s definitely more natural. It’s great to have a player like him who is capable of playing on both sides, but we shouldn’t see that as an excuse not to go out and sign a new first-choice left back.

Budget

Tom Pearce’s exit frees up a reported £5,000 p/w off the wage bill, and as we remain keen to reduce our wage bill I will be working on the basis that a new left full back / wing back will be on no more than £4,000 p/w. The likelihood is they will be signed on a free transfer or on loan too, so players that would require a fee, while still considered, won’t be prioritised.

Criteria

Shaun Maloney asks a variety of different things from his wide defenders depending on the system he chooses. In a back four we will need our full backs to be comfortable occupying central areas and affecting the game from there, as well as providing threat out wide when required. A good level of technical skill is a necessity, with quick feet in tight zones a key in-possession attribute.

Solid one on one defending is important too, as is a general level of defensive knowhow. We don’t need a full back capable of playing centre back as Robinson does that, so the main focus will be on what they bring us on the ball. Basically, I want to replace Tom Pearce’s profile with a slight upgrade in certain areas of the game where possible.

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Option One – Rio Adebisi (23-years-old)

Starting off with a player I’ve wanted Latics to sign for years, so I’m delighted that now we might actually be in a position to make it happen. Rio Adebisi is exactly what you want from a modern day full back, and is fresh off the back of his best season at boyhood club Crewe. A real threat going forwards, what I like most about him is his ability to take on his opponent down either side. He’s naturally left-footed, but can cut in on his right which makes him hard to defend against. He’s quick, agile and tricky with the ball at his feet, and is always looking to be positive with his decision making. Defensively he can be a little naïve, but I’ve seen him make some vital interventions, none more so than a remarkable clearance in Crewe’s recent play-off semi-final. In a lot of ways he’s a left-footed Steven Sessegnon, and that’s a real compliment.

I’d be trying to get this deal wrapped up as soon as possible to be honest. He’s the perfect profile both age and ability wise, won’t cost much and is local. My top pick, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s a view shared by Maloney & co. The only potential stumbling block is he has a play-off final to be preparing for, so it might be a while before his future is decided.

Option Two – Ben Doherty (27-years-old)

Moving on to a more traditional left back, Derry City star Ben Doherty is someone who I’d love to see get an EFL move. First things first he’s really good defensively, so much so that he’s been used at centre back at the beginning of the League of Ireland season. He ranks highly for duels and tackles won per 90, while also being above average in the air compared with other full backs in the division. Importantly though he’s multi-talented, and combines that solidity with dynamic dribbling and a wicked left-footed cross. At 27-years-old he’s in his prime, and is probably the most well-rounded player on this list. He’d give us the ability to play a back four or five without having to change personnel, which has been a problem for us.

He’s under contract at Derry and hasn’t been there for long, so it may be hard to prize him away. However, if we want a more experienced option in this position for a, in reality, very cheap fee, Doherty would be great. Get James McClean to put in a good word perhaps?

Option Three – Matty Foulds (26-years-old)

Matty Foulds must go down as one of the signings of the 2023/24 season in League Two, as his move from Bradford to Harrogate proved a masterstroke. The full back showed his class with some fantastic defensive attributes, blended nicely with some decent attacking play. He’s very much a full back and I wouldn’t be too keen on him higher up – he’s similar to Luke Robinson in that respect – but he has the game to be one of our inverting full backs for sure. He could also do the Luke Chambers LCB / LB hybrid role quite nicely. I’d suggest this is a signing that we’d be better off making if Maloney is all-in on a back four, but as I’m not 100% convinced that will be the case it probably isn’t quite the perfect fit. He’s still very good though.

Perhaps the biggest stumbling block is the price that we’d likely have to pay for him. He’s contracted another year, and with him being a prized asset they’ll rightly want as much as possible. He’s one to look at next summer though for sure, especially if we don’t sort the position out this summer.

Option Four – Jack Currie (22-years-old)

Another star League Two left back, Jack Currie has made himself a fan’s favourite at AFC Wimbledon. In truth he’s probably established himself as the most exciting prospect in his position in the EFL, and may have loftier ambitions, but if there’s some money lying about I’d love us to spend it on someone like him. His energy and athleticism allow him to fly up and down the wing all game long, and as such he’s always involved in the action. Be that his tenacious defending or his driven attacking, Currie looks really, really good. He’s more of a traditional full back who would be a little wasted when asked to occupy central zones, which we’d probably need, but what a wonderful traditional full back he is.

Currie would undoubtedly be the most expensive option on this list, but if we make and save money elsewhere on transfer fees he would be a stunning pick up. Again, one to try and tee up for the January window or next summer perhaps.

Option Five – Cameron Humphreys (20-years-old)

First things first, this suggestion is entirely based on Shaun Maloney committing to a back four, and would probably be best signed alongside a left wing back too. Cameron Humphreys was part of the Ipswich Town team that brilliantly secured promotion to the Premier League, but understandably he struggled for game time. That will be the case even more so next season, so a loan move to Latics for a season starting as an inverted-left back would be great, I reckon. He’s technically outstanding and plays best in tight zones, from which he can quickly zip passes out to combine with teammates and play through the press. He’d offer an extra playmaking option, and could be used in midfield should the opportunity arise. There are some slight physical and defensive limitations, but nothing that can’t be worked around.

Latics used the loan market well last season, and this would be another great pick up. He’d need to come in alongside another ‘wing back’ profile, but that shouldn’t be an issue. The lad needs games and he’d fit our system really well.

Option Six – Jack Sparkes (23-years-old)

Jack Sparkes is someone I wanted us to sign last summer, but he made the smart call of joining the league winners Portsmouth. However, their success probably spells the end for his time at Fratton Park as his defensive frailties were exposed in a Pompey side that seemed to pride themselves on their solidity. His attacking play is some of the best in the league for sure though, particularly his left-footed delivery from open play and set-pieces. We need a left-footed creator after Tom Pearce’s exit so why not go out and get a chap who is in the top 5% for chances created and expected assists in League One? I have to mention his weaknesses as a defender, and he’s probably best at wing back not full back, but his upside outweighs that for me.

Portsmouth may well want to keep him as an option off the bench, but if he’s ambitious and wants first team football we could offer him it on loan. Sparkes is talented and will improve with more minutes, I’m sure of that.

Option Seven – Tayo Adaramola (20-years-old)

Quick, strong and excellent with the ball at his feet, Tayo Adaramola looks like he’ll be the next full back to come out of the Crystal Palace academy and shine. The Irish youngster was on loan in Belgium last season where he got his first proper run of games at senior level, and appears to have taken the step up in his stride. He goes forward really well and seems to find it really easy to beat a man and put a cross in, with a decent mix of floated and whipped crosses in his locker. Unlike Tom Pearce, who was very much a ‘whipper’, Tayo’s delivery is consistently on the money, and he backs it up with a defensive understanding that makes me comfortable suggesting him as a left back. He could probably play anywhere on the left wing, such is his talent.

Adaramola should be available for loan and a move to the EFL feels necessary for his development. Ben Watson has a foot in both camps, so maybe he could help put a good word in on their end, because I’d certainly take him at the DW.

Option Eight – Jack Armer (23-years-old)

Carlisle United’s relegation back to League Two means Jack Armer is back at the level that he dominated in during the 2022/23 season. At 23-years-old it’s probably not unlikely that he will want a move back to the division above, and while his performances last season weren’t great you have to take into account that he was playing in a really poor team. He did a lot more defending than attacking, and proved to be okay when it came to duels, tackles and aerial contests won. At 6’1″ he defends the back post well and doesn’t allow himself to be bullied by target men, which would strengthen our defending in the penalty area for sure. Going forward he isn’t much of a dribbler, but has bundles of energy and is tidy with the ball at his feet. He’d look a lot better in a side that played to his strengths, which we would do.

If the price is right I’d happily move for Armer, but I fear it won’t be. Carlisle lost star man Owen Moxon for peanuts, so will want to make up for that if they sell their next best player, and that might push him out of our reach. In truth, that’s not as big a blow as it could be.

Notable Mentions

Dan Harvie // 25-years-old // MK Dons (OOC)

Jack Shorrock // 17-years-old // Port Vale (OOC, In Discussions)

Cilnton Mola // 23-years-old // Free Agent (Formerly of Reading)

Jordan Flores // 28-years-old // Bohemians (OOC: 30/11/2024)

Owen Beck // 21-years-old // Liverpool (Loan)

Lino Sousa // 19-years-old // Arsenal (Loan)

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Conclusion

Latics need a left back desperately this summer, and it has been a problem position for us ever since Antonee Robinson’s exit in 2020. It’s imperative this summer that we get the position sorted out, and if at all possible do so with a player who can remain at the club for a number of years and really make the position their own.

Rio Adebisi is the pick of the bunch for me, and not just because he’d cost the least on fees and wages. He’s got a bit of everything already and could end up being our left back for many years to come. Ben Doherty would be a great signing if Maloney is focused on building a more experienced back line. He has five years left at his peak too, so is in no way a short term fix. Jack Currie, Matty Foulds and Jack Armer would all be more costly signings, but each have great quality to offer. Currie would be the pick of the bunch for sure, while Foulds and Armer are probably too important to their clubs to be sold for a reasonable price, and are both quite similar to Luke Robinson. Cameron Humphreys would be a wonderful signing if Maloney wants to loan in a natural inverted full back, while Tayo Adaramola is another Premier League player who would provide a great option down the left hand side for us.

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Scenario One

A sizeable amount money is made available for transfer fees, Shaun Maloney commits to playing a back four, and two players are recruited for the position on a combined wage of less than £10,000 p/w

Scenario Two

A smaller amount of money is made available for transfer fees, and two players are recruited for the position on a combined wage of less than £8,000 p/w

Scenario Three

No money is made available for transfer fees, and one player is recruited for the position on a wage of 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!