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As part of our analysis of the transfer window, we take a look at Wigan Athletic.

Wigan manager Gary Caldwell

After spending last year in League One, Wigan have made a swift return to the Championship and will look to make a return to the top flight for 2017/18 after an absence of four seasons.

As with all promoted teams, Wigan have looked to strengthen in the off-season so as to avoid a repeat of their last season in the Championship, which resulted in a 23rd place finish.

Manager Gary Caldwell has overseen a summer of upheaval, with a whole host of players coming and going from the DW Stadium, with all but one of the incoming deals a loan or free transfer.

SUMMER BUYS

Nathan Byrne (£500,000)

The 24-year-old winger began his career with Tottenham, and featured regularly last season for Wolves.

After starring for Swindon Town, he signed for Wolves before the beginning of last season for £1 million as Wigan missed out on his signature, but with the Latics now offering Championship football, Byrne is on his way to the DW Stadium.

Jordi Gomez (Free)

The 31-year-old Spanish midfielder returns to the club for whom he made 127 appearances between 2009 and 2014.

He has spent the past two years with Sunderland in the Premier League, although he spent the latter half of last season at Blackburn.

Gomez has a wealth of experience and knows exactly what it takes to play for Wigan at the highest level. He’ll bring a much-needed old head to Caldwell’s side.

Nick Powell (Free)

The 22-year-old midfielder returns to Wigan on a free transfer from Manchester United, having spent the 2013/14 season at the DW Stadium.

Powell celebrates scoring for the Latics

The youngster’s time at Old Trafford didn’t quite work out, but he is highly rated by Wigan and did the business during his previous spell at the club, helping fire the Latics to the Championship play-offs.

Stephen Warnock (Free)

The 34-year-old defender arrives from Derby County on a free transfer having spent some of last year on loan with the Latics.

There’s very little the veteran hasn’t experienced during a lengthy career that has taken in spells with Liverpool, Aston Villa and Leeds, along with two caps for England.

Dan Burn (Free)

The 24-year-old defender arrives from Fulham, and has been a regular fixture in the Championship for the last two seasons, plus during the season prior whilst on loan at Birmingham City.

Burn also made nine Premier League appearances for the Cottagers during the 2013/14 season.

Jake Buxton (Free)

The 31-year-old defender arrives from Derby County having spent seven years with the club.

Buxton is an experienced, no-nonsense defender who along with Stephen Warnock can ensure that the Latics will be solid at the back in the forthcoming campaign.

Adam Bogdan (Loan)

Bogdan appearing for Liverpool

The 28-year-old Hungary international goalkeeper arrives on loan from Liverpool and has been given the number one jersey.

Luke Garbutt (Loan)

The 23-year-old left-back arrives at the DW Stadium on loan from Everton. The age-grade international is highly rated and will provide much-needed cover after the Latics suffered injuries to Reece James and Andy Kellett.

Adam Le Fondre (Loan)

The 29-year-old striker is on loan from Cardiff City. Le Fondre has an excellent goalscoring pedigree having fired in the goals for Rochdale, Rotherham and Reading in recent years, and is rekindling associations with former teammates such as Adam Bogdan and Reece Burke.

Kyle Knoyle (Loan)

The 19-year-old defender arrived from West Ham during the summer, but has already been ruled out for a lengthy period of time after a freak accident which saw him break and dislocate his elbow during the club’s Portuguese training camp.

Shaun MacDonald (Undisclosed)

The 28-year-old Welsh midfielder comes to Wigan from Bournemouth. It is hoped that MacDonald’s experience representing Bournemouth from League One right up to the Premier League will bode well for the Latics.

MacDonald (L) for Bournemouth

Reece Burke (Loan)

The 19-year-old defender is on the books of West Ham, and has been capped by England at age-grade level. Burke had played for the Hammers during their short-lived Europa League campaign before making the move to Wigan.

Alex Gilbey (Undisclosed)

The 21-year-old midfielder has made over 100 appearances for Colchester United, and he was the club’s Vice-Captain and Player of the Season last year. Gilbey is regarded as a future Premier League talent.

Kaiyne Woolery (Undisclosed)

The 21-year-old striker moves in a permanent deal from Bolton Wanderers, where the exciting youngster found opportunities hard to come by.

Outgoings?

Leon Barnett, Chris McCann, Kevin McNaughton, Reece Wabara, Danny Whitehead, Ryan Jennings, Billy McKay, Lee Nicholls, Tim Chow, Sanmi Odelusi, Emyr Huws, Andrew Taylor, Jason Pearce, Sam Morsy, Ryan Colclough, Jack Hendry.

Summary

Caldwell has recruited extensively over the summer in a period of drastic upheaval, bringing in no fewer than 13 players whilst 14 head the other way. There is a good mix of experienced players and talented youngsters, many of whom have Premier League experience.

Several of the new boys have already made their bow for the Latics, but it hasn’t been the best start to the season. Wigan have lost three of their first five Championship matches, with the only win coming against Blackburn.

Overall, it’s been a good transfer window for the Latics, but ultimately it is results on the field that matter, and presently the new acquisitions are yet to turn the club into a top-of-the-table team.

GRADE B