Wigan Athletic 2024/25 Sensible Transfers – Centre Midfielders

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

Matt Smith // 23-years-old // £4,000 p/w

Baba Adeeko // 21-years-old // £2,000 p/w

Scott Smith // 23-years-old // £1,500 p/w

Joe Adams // 19-years-old // £1,000 p/w

Kai Payne // 19-years-old // £750 p/w

We’re well stocked in centre midfield numbers wise, but there is definitely a profile problem. We have two energetic ball-winners with Baba Adeeko and Scott Smith, and two more technical playmakers with Matt Smith and Joe Adams. Kai Payne is the least established of the group, but he looks like he could be a mix of the two.

Budget

Liam Shaw’s loan has ended which reportedly frees up £4,000 p/w on our wage bill. That’s the same ball-park I’m going to be working in when suggesting options, and while in an ideal world we’ll be able to recruit a free agent for this position there will be a few options put forward in case we are given a bit of extra money to spend.

Criteria

What’s missing is a box-to-box midfielder capable of progressing the ball with passes and runs. We’re too ‘samey’ in the middle third, and the addition of a ball-carrying option who can shoot from range, or pick passes in the final third is vital. We’ve got our specialists, it’s time to add a complete number eight to complete the position. We only need one signing in centre midfield in my opinion. I can maybe see us adding an experienced number six too, but that’s a less pressing need.

I want players who have a well-rounded skillset, but will be prioritising in-possession quality for sure. Ball-carriers are a must, but also players with the ability to pick a pass in the final third and affect the game in that way. Long range shooting is something our midfielders don’t do enough of too, so that’s an attribute we need to focus on too.

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Option One – Will Patching (25-years-old)

Starting off with one of my top targets across all positions ahead of this summer, Will Patching is a hell of a player. He’s a do it all midfielder who can play as a number six, eight or ten, but I like him as an eight with a bit of licence to get forward and involved in the attacking third. Patching seems to prefer being used on the left of a midfield pairing, which suits us nicely as he can roam a bit from there knowing a full back is going to invert and cover him. He’s fantastic on the ball, with vision and a passing range to rival anyone in the EFL. He’s a set piece taker and has wicked deliveries from all angles. That includes direct shots on goal from free kicks or open play, and he’s hit double figures in the last few seasons. His only slight limitation is a tendency to lose his opposite midfield runner, but alongside someone like Adeeko that wouldn’t be a huge issue.

He’s definitely going to have League One offers, and we need to try and push ourselves to the front of the queue. He’s class, genuinely class, and is the perfect final piece of our midfield puzzle. Spend the money, get the player, win many games. Simples!

Option Two – Panutche Camara (27-years-old)

At his best Panutche Camara is a footballing unicorn. His profile is incredibly rare, and there are genuinely very few players who can do what he can with the ball at his feet in League One. He glides with it at his feet, and his physical frame makes him so difficult to stop when he gets going. He uses it really well, and that’s the most important thing. Lots of players have a size advantage, but it’s the way he positions himself when dribbling, and defending as well which is something he’s very good at too. His passing range is better than he maybe gets credit for too, and would be very very comfortable playing in Shaun Maloney’s team. The only problem with him really is a big problem, and that is that the poor chap just can’t stay fit. And for a player on a wage the size I guess he’d demand, you’d like 46 games from him. He’d be doing well to play 30.

His contract at Ipswich Town is up and he’s on the market. There will be offers, but I wouldn’t be surprised if his fitness puts some off. That’s a fair concern, but if we manage him correctly I would LOVE us to go for it. He’s a special talent.

Option Three – Idris El-Mizouni (23-years-old)

Another really nice midfielder who will be making an exit from Ipswich Town is Tunisian international Idris El-Mizouni, who spent the last two seasons on loan at Leyton Orient. He’s a really well-rounded player who doesn’t really have a weakness to his game. I suppose you could say he doesn’t have the quality of shooting that others do on this list, but excels in most other things. He’s excellent at breaking play up and progressing the ball quickly and effectively, be that by carrying it past opponents or playing incisive passes through tight spaces. He joins things together really nicely and seems like the kind of player that enhances the performances of his teammates. Players like that are invaluable, and I’d love him alongside Matt Smith. They’d be great, and compliment each others skillsets pretty perfectly.

The biggest stumbling block I imagine would be geography, especially as I’m expecting a lot of teams to be in for him. If we can convince him to buy into the project though that’d be great because he’s a wonderful player who could make us a lot of money later down the line.

Option Four – Gavin Kilkenny (24-years-old)

Fleetwood had some great players last season, and it’s hard to believe they were relegated with such a team. One of them, Gavin Kilkenny, really impressed me when we lost 4-2 at their place last season, and with game time hard to come by at Premier League side Bournemouth another loan move could be in store. He’s an energetic box-to-box midfielder who is 7/10 across the board, be that his passing, defending, physicality and dribbling. Kilkenny likes to be involved with the play in all situations, and is just as comfortable receiving the ball off his keeper and defenders as he is feeding it through to those in front of him. I’d probably describe him as a Joe Williams-type, not physically, but in the other areas of the game.

His wage at Bournemouth is quite big and we won’t be getting anywhere near covering it, nor should we. He’s a good player who could be a nice squad option if the price is right.

Option Five – Elliot Bonds (24-years-old)

Elliot Bonds maybe hasn’t been able to show his true attacking talent in a pragmatic Cheltenham Town side, but I think he has the ability to be a really good complete midfielder. By playing in a counter-attacking side he’s had plenty of opportunity to show his defensive quality, and he’s a talented ball winner for sure. Bonds covers ground quickly and has real reach with his tackles and interceptions, something that lends itself to a midfield that often finds itself quite open like ours. I like what I’ve seen from a technical perspective too and really do think he needs to play in a side that would allow him to show it more. He gets forward well, has decent vision and execution with his passes, and is just a very accomplished footballer.

He’s contracted at Cheltenham and would cost some money to bring in, which could be an issue. I don’t think it happens, but if we lose Baba Adeeko this is the replacement. He’s different, but he’s very good and will be incredible in League Two if he stays there.

Option Six – Matty Virtue (27-years-old)

Matty Virtue has had a good few years at League One level, but is now ready for a new challenge having been released by Blackpool. As all of the lads on this list are he’s very much the complete midfielder who would find it very easy to fit in to our way of playing, but the main thing Virtue brings that everyone except Panutche Camara brings is proper experience at the level. With a very young midfield as it is I can see the value in adding a calm head in there who guarantees a decent performance week after week. Virtue is a non-stop runner with a real eye for a pass, but also looks to be a very solid defensive player too. That ability to be the defensive or attacking number eight is something we don’t really have the profile for at the moment so he’d slot in nicely in that sense.

Virtue is available on a free transfer and as a guy based in the north west he may well be keen on a move to Latics. I don’t see why we wouldn’t be keen on him, because he’s a very solid player at this level.

Option Seven – Isaac Hutchinson (24-years-old)

Walsall supporters voted Isaac Hutchinson as their Player of the Season, which is high praise given the fact the Saddlers had a very decent season. With 15 goals from midfield it’s clear to see that he’s a talented individual, and what I like most about him is the fact that he combines that scoring ability with a good creative brain too. He’s a decent ball carrier and is a good size that makes him look quite powerful when he gets going. When he gets past his opponent he’s more than willing to fire shots on goal, but isn’t greedy and will often try and slip a teammate in should they be in a better position. I really rate his decision making, and while of course he can improve I’d suggest he’s a League One quality player already.

He’ll cost a lot more money than most on this list which probably makes him the most unrealistic option, but I just wanted to put him forward as a player to keep an eye on. If he plays well for Walsall next season he’ll rocket to the top of my shortlist when his contract expires in 2025.

Option Eight – Lewis Fiorini (21-years-old)

I must admit I was surprised to find out Lewis Fiorini is still only 21-years-old, because it feels like he’s been around for ages in the EFL. Manchester City clearly rate him as he’s contracted there for two more years, but he needs a proper run of games for a full season to properly release his potential. At his best, Fiorini is a supremely talented creative midfielder who glides past players with the ball at his feet, pings passes all around the pitch and fires shots on goal from range. He could play higher up, but is best receiving the ball in deeper areas and beating the first line of the opposition press. He’s the type of player who can open a team up, sometimes without having to do anything particularly special. he just makes things happen, and that’s a real talent.

His injury record is of course a concern, but you’d like to think those days are behind him after two years of, essentially, rehab. A cheap loan move could be a lovely little temporary addition to our midfield.

Notable Mentions

Number 6s

Elliot Watt // 24-years-old // Free Agent (Formerly of Salford City)

Taelor O’Kane // 18-years-old // AFC Fylde (£50k – £100k)

Keanu Baccus // 25-years-old // St Mirren (OOC: 30/06/2024)

James McManus // 19-years-old // Bohemians FC (30/11/2025)

Arjan Raikhy // 21-years-old // Leicester City (Loan)

Number 8s

Liam Walsh // 26-years-old // Swansea City (OOC: 30/06/2024)

Arthur Read // 24-years-old // Colchester United (£100k – £250k)

Danny Mandriou // 25-years-old // Lincoln City (OOC: 30/06/2024)

Jensen Weir // 22-years-old // Brighton & Hove Albion (OOC: 30/06/2024)

Lewis Warrington // 21-years-old // Everton (OOC: 30/06/2024)

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Conclusion

Of all the positions we’ll be recruiting for this summer I’d suggest this is the least pressing issue. However, the lack of the profile I mentioned at the beginning of the article is still very evident and I would like and expect something to be done about it in the transfer window. The right signing could take us from a good team to a great one, and if we want to be ambitious we need to bring one in.

My top target would be Will Patching, who would bring everything I want and more to our midfield. There will be other clubs in for him I’m sure, but he’d be absolutely fantastic for us and I think he’d like playing in our system too. Ipswich due Panutche Camara and Idris El Mizouni would be smart pick ups too, and the fact they’re both free agents makes things easier. However, whether either would take a move up north for the first time in their careers remains to be seen. I’d love us to sign one of those too. Elliot Bonds and Isaac Hutchinson would cost a lot of money and are probably players that we need to keep tabs on, maybe with the view of signing next summer. Gavin Kilkenny and Lewis Fiorini would be excellent loan signings to add dynamism to our midfield, while Matty Virtue is a free agent who would add great depth to our squad and offer something different to our current options.

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Scenario One

The position is made high priority, and some 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

Scenario Two

The position is made medium priority, but 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

Scenario Three

The position is made low priority, 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!