Wigan Athletic are weighing a contract offer for trialist Scott Hogan as they push to sign a new striker before Tuesday's 11pm deadline. Manager Gary Caldwell is finalizing his squad during the last week of the transfer window, with the club sitting 24th in League One after losing all three of their opening matches.
Scott Hogan has been training with Wigan Athletic for the past month after becoming a free agent this summer. His contract with MK Dons ended, leaving the 34-year-old forward without a club. Hogan featured in a pre-season friendly against Southport ahead of the new campaign and started two league games for MK Dons last season. He made 20 appearances in total and scored once against Shrewsbury Town.
Football Lowdown reports that Hogan is viewed as a backup option for Caldwell. The manager's primary focus remains on bringing in a new forward to replace the output of Joe Taylor from last season. Taylor's departure has left a gap, and Christian Saydee's pre-season injury has increased the need for attacking reinforcements. Sonny Perkins, Akeel Higgins and Dara Costelloe have been brought in to help fill that void.
Wigan have made positive progress on several fronts beyond the striker search. Goalkeeper Joe Whitworth will arrive from Crystal Palace on a permanent basis, strengthening the squad's options between the posts. Another key target is Luca Woodhouse, with the club having sent two bids to Exeter City for the player.
These moves come as Wigan look to improve a squad that has conceded six goals while scoring only two in their first three League One fixtures. Their -4 goal difference reflects a difficult start, and they currently trail leaders Blackpool by seven points in the table.
Alan Nixon said, "the Latics could make a deal for trialist Scott Hogan, who has been training with the club for the past month." This potential move is explicitly a Plan B. The club's priority is to secure a different forward before the window shuts. If that effort fails, Hogan represents a ready and available alternative who already knows the setup.
His experience could provide short-term cover, especially with the team needing to find a way to score more goals. Wigan's search for new options is urgent, given their league position and upcoming match against high-flying Stockport. Fans can track the squad's evolution on our squad page as new arrivals are confirmed.
The immediate focus is Tuesday's 11pm deadline. Caldwell and his recruitment team have a clear order of operations: secure a primary striker target first. Only if that proves impossible will they likely turn to Hogan with a formal contract offer. The club's activity this week will directly shape their options for the coming months.
With the window closing, any further business must be completed swiftly. The current standings show the scale of the task ahead, making these final signings important for the campaign. Wigan Athletic need players who can contribute immediately to help turn around their early-season form.
