Wigan Athletic may be forced to sell West Ham United and West Brom target Antonee Robinson for a cut-price £1.5 million fee this summer, according to the Sun (7 July, page 50).
Not so long ago, an exciting USA international was valued at £10 million and on the verge of a dream move to the San Siro.
But 2020 has become something of a nightmare year not just for Robinson but for Wigan as a whole.
Six months after the left-back’s once-in-a-lifetime move to AC Milan fell through in heartbreaking fashion thanks to a failed medical, his current club have been plunged into administration; not to mention a very unwelcome relegation battle.
Only a Wayne Rooney-inspired Derby County have outperformed Paul Cook’s Latics since the turn of the year.
But, with a 12-point deduction now hanging over their heads, Wigan now need a miracle if they are to avoid being dumped into League One.
According to the Sun, Robinson’s price tag will drop to just £1.5 million unless Cook and co can pull off a great escape that even Harry Houdini himself would struggle to match.
Both West Ham and West Brom are interested in an attack-minded 22-year-old who honed his considerable talents at Everton, while Leicester City have been linked over the weekend via the Mirror.
With that in mind, there is a very real chance that the Foxes sell Ben Chilwell for a world-record fee and then buy his replacement for just £1.5 million.
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