Wigan Athletic told to demand "north of £5m" as Sheffield United plot transfer | OneFootball

Sam Tickle has recently been linked with a move to Sheffield United, and FLW's Wigan Athletic fan pundit shares their opinion on the matter

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Sheffield United have recently been linked with Wigan Athletic's once-capped England Under-21 international Sam Tickle over a potential January switch to South Yorkshire.

According to Alan Nixon, the Blades have been keeping an eye on the 23-year-old Tickle, who has asserted himself as the Latics' undisputed number one goalkeeper over the past few seasons.

Tickle broke into the first team at Wigan in the 2023/24 season, becoming the club's number one keeper upon their relegation to League One, and has played every league game since, having started in goal for the club in each of the last 111 league games.

Despite Wigan's struggles on the pitch over recent years, Tickle has remained a bright spark, with the Latics seeing the likes of Joe Gelhardt, Thelo Aasgard, Charlie Hughes, and Kyle Joseph all leave the club for smaller fees than they would've hoped for otherwise.

With Tickle under contract until the summer of 2028, Wigan will likely be more demanding in commanding a fee for their star asset, and with Sheffield United sniffing around this January, the club has been urged to hold firm.

Wigan Athletic urged to hold out for a substantial fee for Sam Tickle in the event of a sale following Sheffield United interest

Football League World's Wigan fan pundit, Corey, has shared their views on whether they can see Tickle departing the club this January for Sheffield United.

Corey said: "I think we should be demanding at least north of £5m. I don't know, I don't see it. Goalkeepers moving in January just doesn't really happen. I can't see it happening.

"It would rely on Michael Cooper leaving as well, so then we'd have the bargaining chip of if they've raked in 20 million for Mike Cooper, then we can demand a fair portion of that 20 million quid.

"Again, it's not one I see happening, and it doesn't need to happen for anyone really, because I can't see Cooper going.

"Wigan don't need to sell. He's on a long-term contract. He's not under a release clause like Charlie Hughes was, like Thelo Aasgard was.

"If anything, we're more likely to feel a little bit aggrieved that we've lost Aasgard and we've lost Hughes for less, so we may try and make some of that back on Tickle.

"So yeah, definitely north of £5m at least for me."

Sam Tickle is unlikely to leave Wigan Athletic for Sheffield United this January

Despite Sheffield United's struggles this season, head coach Chris Wilder has seemingly got the Blades back on track after a rocky start to the season under former Reading and Hull City boss Ruben Selles.

Sheffield United are undefeated in their last four outings, with a 1-1 draw at home to Norwich City on Tuesday night making it 13 points from a possible 15, as the club looks to climb out of the bottom half after a difficult beginning to the campaign.

Michael Cooper has asserted as the club's number one shot-stopper since he arrived from Plymouth Argyle in the summer of 2024, having not missed a league game since he joined, despite coming off injured against Coventry City earlier in the season.

Any move the Blades may make for Tickle would likely ultimately hinge on the sale of Cooper, with the Wigan goalkeeper unlikely to join the club and act as a backup.

Wigan are in a strong position to demand a sizeable fee for their prized asset, and will be even more reluctant to part ways in January, with replacements for goalkeepers mid-season notoriously hard to find.

A deal between the two clubs this winter is unlikely, and if Cooper remains at the club, almost impossible.

Should Cooper move on in the summer, the Blades may revisit a deal for Tickle, whose next move is destined to be a club in a higher division, having shone at The Brick Community Stadium for the past few years.