Wigan Athletic manager Shaun Maloney has expressed his desire to retain Nottingham Forest loanee Dale Taylor beyond the current season.
The 21-year-old forward is due to return to his parent club this summer when his loan deal expires, but Maloney has made it clear he would like to keep him at the DW Stadium for the long term.
Maloney Keen to Retain Taylor
Taylor has impressed during his spell with Wigan Athletic, contributing eight goals and seven assists in 28 League One appearances so far this campaign.
Speaking after their 2-1 victory over Huddersfield Town on Tuesday night, Maloney told the club’s official X account:
“Dale Taylor has been brilliant for us, an absolute standout. I’m relying on him even more now with Will Goodwin’s injury and obviously with (Josh) Stones going to York. He’s been brilliant. I’m a huge fan of him. I would love to work extremely hard to keep him at this club for a long time.”
Wigan’s Plans for Taylor
Wigan brought in Taylor last year to strengthen their attacking options, with Nottingham Forest allowing him to leave on loan to gain more first-team experience.
Forest, currently chasing Champions League football under Nuno Espirito Santo, will have a major decision to make regarding Taylor’s long-term future. The forward remains under contract at the City Ground until June 2027.
Taylor initially joined Nottingham Forest from Linfield in 2020 and made his first-team debut in 2022 during a Carabao Cup clash against Grimsby Town.
The Northern Ireland international, who has eight senior caps, has spent time on loan at Burton Albion and Wycombe Wanderers in previous seasons, scoring five goals in 20 appearances for the Brewers before netting nine times in 51 outings for the Chairboys.
What’s Next for Wigan Athletic and Dale Taylor?
Whether Wigan can strike a deal with Nottingham Forest for Taylor remains to be seen, but Maloney is clearly eager to keep the striker at the club.
The Latics’ recent win over Huddersfield Town was a crucial one as they continue their push up the League One table. They will look to maintain their momentum when they face Reading at home this weekend.
Writer’s View
Taylor has been a key figure for Wigan this season, and it is no surprise that Maloney wants to keep him. His energy, work rate, and ability to both score and create goals make him an asset at this level.
Nottingham Forest now have a decision to make. With their ambitions set on European qualification, Taylor may struggle for game time if he returns to the City Ground. A permanent move or another loan spell could be the best outcome for all parties, but Wigan will have to compete with other clubs for his signature if Forest decide to sell.
