Wigan Athletic’s struggles off the pitch have been extremely well documented since their catastrophic demise over the summer months.
Having been taken over by a Hong Kong-based company in June, the club were promised great things. However, the ‘owner’ turned out to be a dud and within a month they were placed into administration, given a 12-point deduction and relegated on the final day of the season.
Perhaps their biggest loss, however, have been the cut-price sales of their key youth players in the summer transfer window – which were authorized in order to keep the club afloat. Having built up a brilliant youth system over the years, Wigan were forced to sell Jensen Weir (18), Alfie Devine (16), Joe Gelhardt (18) and Antonee Robinson (23) for a combined fee of £4 million – a paltry fee, when you take into account Robinson almost moved to AC Milan for £10 million last winter.
And, to further add to their demise, The Sun columnist and Partick Thistle fan Alan Nixon has reported that Celtic are waiting in the wings for their youth captain, Sean McGurk, to make the move across the border.
Nixon claims that Leeds United have had a move turned down for the 17-year old centre midfielder, who scored at Old Trafford against Manchester United’s youth side last year – but the bid was too low, and Celtic and theRangers are now preparing bids for the youngster.
Leeds. Offer made for Sean McGurk. Latest Wigan whizz kid. Turned down by Latics. Not enough. Contract up in summer so can move then. But danger that Rangers (or Celtic) step in with pre contract in meantime.
— Alan Nixon (@reluctantnicko) January 12, 2021
Celtic and theRangers are able to offer the teen pre-contract terms as he enters the last six months of his contract, and given Celtic’s history of a production line – notably Kieran Tierney, Moussa Dembele and Virgil Van Dijk come to mind – Lennoxtown would be a very interesting proposition for McGurk in terms of his development as a player.
The Liverpool-born midfielder is supremely talented, scoring more than his fair share from the centre of the park. The move would more than benefit Celtic, too; having had a few failed transfers since Rodgers departed, McGurk would add some longevity to the side.
He brings a lot to the table and can score from distance – take a look at this stunner last year.
👏👏👏 Take a bow, Sean McGurk!#FAYouthCup | #wafc 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/gH6cbjHmtw
— Wigan Athletic (@LaticsOfficial) November 4, 2020
Time will tell if McGurk decides to make the move to Glasgow; hopefully he’ll do the right thing and choose the Green and White side of the city.
