Exeter City on the cusp of a second Gary Caldwell blow as transfer looms | OneFootball

Ilmari Niskanen has been linked with an exit from Exeter City this summer with a Gary Caldwell reunion at Wigan heavily reported.

At the start of the season, a large majority of Exeter City fans wouldn't have been too worried about a potential exit for Ilmari Niskanen.

In fact, plenty would have been happy to see it happen.

For all his industry, defensive solidarity and versatility, the Finland wing back was regularly berated for a lack of end product in the final third during his first two seasons at St James Park.

However, he's had a superb campaign in 2025/26 and, if the Grecians are to avoid the drop, he will have played a huge part in that.

Exeter are two points adrift of AFC Wimbledon in 20th with just two games of the League One season to go.

Next, Matt Taylor's men head to a make-or-break date with Burton Albion hoping that their goal difference, the best in the bottom seven, will help drag them to safety.

Niskanen will be one of the first names on Taylor's team sheet at the Pirelli Stadium, and he'll be hoping to add to his impressive haul of two goals and 15 assists in all competitions for the Devon side this year in their ongoing relegation battle.

Ilmari Niskanen has made strides this season

The improvement is stark and is in direct correlation with some of the great football Gary Caldwell finally got City playing towards the end of his tenure at St James Park.

And, after a dip both personally and for the team, Niskanen has stormed back to form in the last couple of weeks with three assists in his last two appearances.

In the two seasons prior to this one, Niskanen registered just five assists and two goals in 80 matches in all competitions for City, so it just feels typical that he's out of contract just as he hits the best form of his career outside his native Finland.

His stock is high and, while he certainly gives the impression that he'd like to extend his stay in the South West, Exeter's budget constraints after a tremulous year and his fine form mean a departure feels nailed on.

Niskanen linked with Wigan Athletic transfer

Equally inevitable are the rumblings of a reunion between Niskanen and the man who has put so much faith in him; Wigan Athletic's recently-appointed boss Caldwell.

While he was seen as a solid if unspectacular squad member just months ago, Exeter will now be desperate to keep hold of the Finland international who has combined his excellent physical attributes with a potent attacking output.

Given the advertised reduced budget for next season keeping him will be tricky, and it should be impossible if the Grecians are to drop into League Two next season.

Exeter's budget is already safely in the relegation zone in League One, while he would be in line for a handy pay rise if Wigan make a move for him as reported.

As ever, it looks set to be a summer of change at Exeter and Niskanen might not be the only one to swap St James Park for The Brick Community Stadium, especially if Caldwell's record of signing players he's previously worked with during his tenure with the Grecians is anything to go by.

Caldwell's initial departure was a big hit and undoubtedly played a huge part in Exeter's descent into the drop zone, but further blows could still be to come if he decides to cherry-pick the remnants of the squad he left behind in mid-February.