Wigan Athletic poised to sign Chelsea star that Enzo Maresca called 'perfect' | OneFootball

Young Chelsea midfielder Reggie Walsh is expected to join Wigan Athletic on loan.

Wigan Athletic enjoyed a positive end to the season under Gary Caldwell, with the former player managing to guide the club clear of any relegation worries.

The 44-year-old, who also had a spell in charge earlier in his career, was back with the Latics in February after doing an impressive job with Exeter City.

Whilst he managed to get a decent tune out of the existing squad, it’s clear that major work is required if the team is going to kick-on, and the club have already made some moves in the transfer market in a bid to bolster the squad.

Wigan targeting loan deal for Chelsea’s Reggie Walsh

However, Caldwell and the recruitment team are working on a strict budget, so there has been a focus on bringing in free transfers.

Another area they will look to use to their advantage is the loan market, and it appears a deal for a highly-rated Chelsea talent is in the pipeline.

That’s after journalist Alan Nixon revealed that Reggie Walsh is expected to move to the Latics from Chelsea.

Whilst there is no specific timeframe for when the deal will go through, he explains that Walsh - a player that made his Chelsea debut as a 16-year-old in 2025, and who was described as a 'perfect' player for the way they wanted to play at the time by Enzo Maresca - should link up with the League One side ahead of the deadline, and the relationship between the two clubs is a key reason as to why.

The Londoners recently signed youngster Harrison Bettoni after his deal with Wigan had expired, with the Latics agreeing a compensation package worth up to £750,000 for his services.

As well as that, Wigan have shown in the past that they can be a great place for youngsters to develop, with Chelsea skipper Reece James benefiting from an outstanding year with the Latics during the 2018/19 campaign, when the club were in the Championship.

Reggie Walsh could be a shrewd signing for Wigan Athletic

Given the dealings they’ve had with Chelsea, it makes sense for Wigan to try and sign a player from the Blues, as they are well-known for having one of the best academies not just in the country, but across Europe.

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So, when you sign a youngster from Chelsea, you know that they will have had a good footballing education, and Walsh is someone that is seen as a top talent by those at Cobham, which is why he has already played a few games for the first-team in cup competitions.

At 17, there will naturally be doubts about whether he will be able to make an instant impact in the third tier, and the physicality of the league.

But, Wigan are in a position where they need to take a chance in the market, and Walsh has qualities that Caldwell will be desperate to add to this side.

The teenager is very comfortable on the ball, and he can play higher up the pitch, so he would bring real creativity and imagination to Wigan.

From the perspective of the player, it’s a great opportunity to play football regularly, and Walsh will be determined to show what he can do in the EFL, so it’s a potential move that could suit all parties, and it will be intriguing to see how the youngster adapts.