Preston North End have had a bid for Wigan Athletic’s Sam Tickle rejected.
The Championship side are keen to improve their number one options and have set their sights on 22-year-old, Tickle.
The England Under-21 goalie came through the academy at Wigan, making his debut back in October 2021. To date, he’s played 84 times in all competitions for the Latics.
Tickle’s been Wigan’s number one throughout the season, producing some eye-catching displays. Now Wigan fans look set for a nervy end to the transfer market as their number one attracts interest from the division above.
What Do We Know About the Preston Interest in Tickle?
Peter O’Rourke shared on his X that Preston have had a bid rejected by the League One club.
There’s no mention of the exact figure or if Preston are expected to try again for the Wigan academy product.
How Has Tickle Done This Season?
The Wigan number one has played all 26 of their League One games this season. In doing so, he’s kept 11 clean sheets and conceded 26 goals. For his performances in the league, he’s received an average Sofascore rating of 6.87.
In a Wigan team that are 16th in the league, the young goalie has impressed. He’s made 73 saves, averaging 2.8 per game and only made two errors that have led to a goal.
Tickle’s also shown he’s capable with the ball at his feet. He has a passing accuracy average of 52% and a passing average in his own half of 87%. The latter is impressive because it means he rarely turns the ball over in dangerous positions.
Will Tickle Stay at Wigan? – Opinion
There has been no indication before this offer that Tickle will be leaving Wigan in the near future.
In May 2024 he signed a new deal with his boyhood club. The deal saw Tickle commit his to future to Wigan up until 2028. However, this doesn’t mean if an offer that’s tempting to both the club and the player comes in, he has to stay.
One big obstacle for whoever tries to lure Tickle away between now and the end of the window is the proximity to the deadline. If Tickle was allowed to depart by Wigan, it would only give them a few days to find a suitable replacement.
Given their precarious league position and the fact they would need to find a replacement quick, this deal appears unlikely to happen during this transfer window at least.