Wigan Athletic is poised to complete a swoop for Manchester City's Charlie Gray, a 20-year-old midfielder, after he was spotted at the EFL Trophy win over Aston Villa U21s on Tuesday. The League One club is using the loan market to continue their summer recruitment drive, with talks of deals for Reggie Walsh and Luke Harris dominating headlines of late.
Aged only 20, Gray is still in the formative years of his career. Born in Manchester, he has spent his entire career in the Manchester City academy and has made only one substitute appearance in senior football. This move will mark an important step in his career, as he remains close to home and his parent club but will be regularly around a senior dressing room and playing demanding first-team football week in, week out.
Gray is a calm and composed player on the ball, very aware of his surroundings and with a good passing range. He is a hard-working midfielder and will be determined to prove he can cut it at the level as he takes an exciting step in his development.
If Wigan Athletic can complete the signings of Walsh, Harris, and Gray, it will be a real injection of youth, energy, and hunger to the midfield. All are determined to prove their abilities in League One, and they will provide real depth for manager Gary Caldwell.
Caldwell is clearly looking to build a midfield capable of high-energy football. These loan deals will help him build towards that. Ryan Trevitt has already signed in the midfield, as has Max Power. The latter will be a great leader and mentor for these incoming prospects, and Jensen Weir will relish the added competition for his place in the team.
League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 16th in League One, 56 pts, 14W-14D-18L from 46 games, recent form LLDWW. Goals this season: 49 scored, 58 conceded (-9 goal difference). Title race: 47 points behind leaders Lincoln.
