Exclusive: Wigan Athletic set to beat Leyton Orient in Burnley FC transfer race | OneFootball

Wigan Athletic are set to win the battle for Burnley forward Dara Costelloe ahead of Leyton Orient and MK Dons, FLW understands.

Wigan Athletic are set to win the battle for Burnley forward Dara Costelloe on a permanent transfer ahead of Leyton Orient and MK Dons, Football League World has exclusively been informed.

The Latics have already made a number of moves to bolster their cutting edge in attack this summer, with Fraser Murray, Christian Saydee and Paul Mullin all having completed moves to The Brick Community Stadium.

Wigan boss Ryan Lowe is evidently desperate to improve his attacking options ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, after the Tics' 40 league goals were the lowest of any League One side last season.

Wigan set to beat Leyton Orient and MK Dons to Burnley's Dara Costelloe

Football League World has exclusively been informed that Wigan Athletic are set to win the battle for Burnley forward Dara Costelloe in a permanent deal over Leyton Orient and MK Dons.

Journalist Alan Nixon revealed via his Patreon account earlier this week that the Latics had joined Orient and MK in the race for the Clarets attacker.

Nixon's report at the time claimed that it was in fact MK Dons who were set to win the auction for the 22-year-old, but it now appears as though Wigan have outbid the League Two side.

Costelloe began his career in his native Ireland with Galway United, before being snapped up by Burnley in February 2021.

Costelloe could be a very shrewd signing by Wigan Athletic

Costelloe looks to have all the hallmarks of being a very wise investment by Wigan Athletic.

The Irish youth international displayed some highly encouraging signs during his two loan spells away from Burnley last season, first with Accrington Stanley, and then Northampton Town respectively.

Costelloe bagged five goals and one assist in 17 League Two outings for Accrington during the first half of the campaign, before firing home six times in 15 League One outings for the Cobblers during the second half of the season.

Prior to that, he's also spent time in the Scottish Premiership with both Dundee FC and St. Johnstone respectively, as well as a brief stint on loan with Bradford City in 2022/23 respectively.

Costelloe has featured six times for Burnley during his time at Turf Moor, with four of those appearances coming in the Championship, and has scored goals during his time in the Clarets' academy system too.

Therefore, having proven himself to be a capable goalscorer at both League Two and League One level last term, Costelloe looks to now be finding his feet in the senior game.

As such, he could prove to be a really smart signing by Wigan, and potentially become a cornerstone part of the Ryan Lowe era.