Sheffield United plot transfer for 23-year-old previously wanted by Arsenal | OneFootball

Sheffield United are monitoring Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Sam Tickle in case of interest in their goalkeeper Michael Cooper

Sheffield United have reportedly taken an interest in Wigan Athletic's 23-year-old star goalkeeper Sam Tickle ahead of a potential move to the Blades, should Michael Cooper gather interest of his own.

According to Alan Nixon, Sheffield United are keeping an eye on Wigan goalkeeper Tickle ahead of a potential move to Bramall Lane as early as this January.

Tickle, a once-capped England Under-21 international, has been the Latics' first-choice goalkeeper ever since the club's relegation back to League One in 2023, remarkably having yet to miss a game since.

The 23-year-old has been hot property ever since his initial breakout season, and Wigan have done well to keep a hold of him for as long as they have, but they may be powerless to do so for much longer.

Chris Wilder's resurgent Blades are reportedly keeping an eye on Tickle should interest arise in their goalkeeper Michael Cooper, with it being believed that the Wigan goalkeeper is more than capable of making the jump to the Championship sooner rather than later.

Sam Tickle is being eyed by Sheffield United should Michael Cooper leave the Blades

Indeed, any deal that involves Tickle heading to South Yorkshire would likely mean that Blades' current number one, Michael Cooper, would have had to leave the club.

Despite the big jump from Wigan to Sheffield United, Tickle would likely only leave his boyhood club should he be guaranteed the number one shirt elsewhere, and with Cooper still at the club, that is unlikely to happen.

Cooper had been linked with Premier League outfits during the summer, with each of Burnley, West Ham, and Everton all taking an interest in the former Plymouth Argyle shot-stopper - even Arsenal had been sniffing around the Latics star.

Then-head coach Ruben Selles was adamant that the goalkeeper was going nowhere, as it transpired.

Sheffield United have struggled for much of this season, but under Chris Wilder, once again, the club looks to have finally found their groove, now winning four on the spin following their 4-0 thumping of Stoke City at the weekend, with Cooper impressing.

A move for Tickle will likely only be sanctioned should Premier League interest in Cooper come to the fore once again, and as one of the best goalkeepers in the league, it would not be all too surprising to see that be the case.

Tickle is one off, if not the best keeper in League One at the moment.

Under former Plymouth and Preston North End boss Ryan Lowe, the Latics are within touching distance of the play-off places, sitting just three points off Bolton Wanderers in 6th, where his old assistant, Steven Schumacher, is currently at the helm.

On the final day of the 2022/23 season, Tickle was handed his league debut with Wigan in a goalless draw with Rotherham United, but then-boss and former Wigan favourite Shaun Maloney had admitted he saw Tickle as his first-choice option ahead of the new campaign, saying: "I knew within about four weeks of being here that Sam, I wouldn't say nailed on, but that I would be giving him every opportunity to be No.1."

Tickle has gathered interest from the likes of Preston, Everton, Sunderland, and Birmingham City over the past couple of seasons, but has chosen to remain with the Latics despite this.

It would appear that Tickle's time with Wigan is in its final days, as should he not move on this January and the Latics not be promoted, interest in the summer will no doubt once again be prevalent.