Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Sam Tickle is being chased by Premier League titans Arsenal and Manchester United, according to a report by Teamtalk.
Both sides look to be in the market for a goalkeeper to improve their squad depth, and Tickle appears to be on the list for the two clubs. Arsenal in particular are said to be keen on the 22-year-old, having been in for him in the summer to replace Aaron Ramsdale but deciding to sign Neto on loan from Bournemouth instead.
Underperforming Manchester United are also rumoured to be keen on Tickle, with their goalkeeping situation unclear. Current backup Altay Bayindir has barely featured at Old Trafford and may consider a move away, which would clear a path for Tickle to move to the club and make his claim to play between the sticks.
As a young player from the EFL, Tickle may represent an exciting option for both clubs going forward. In addition to this, his home-grown status would also help the sides meet Premier League quotas, which could be another incentive to move.
The England under-21 international has been in fine form this season and has cemented his status as a player to watch in the EFL. He has recorded six consecutive clean sheets and has one of the best save percentages on the country, and the best in League One, with 70%. With Wigan currently struggling in mid-table of the third tier, Tickle may look for a move up the pyramid either in January or the summer, and his club are said to have accepted that offers will come in when the window opens.
Writer’s View
It’s only a matter of time until Tickle makes a move to the Premier League, but these wouldn’t be wise decisions. Neither Arsenal or Manchester United would be able to offer him the football he needs, and he would be at risk of not fulfilling his potential. Instead, a move to a bottom half Premier League team or a Championship side would be wise; he’d have more of a platform to play games and would develop more sustainably.
For Wigan, they’ll likely get a hefty fee from any sale and would be sensible to include sell-on fees in the deal. It will be a blow for them, so will be hoping to keep hold of him at least until the end of the season to prevent their campaign from tailing off completely.