The Latics were also subject to a transfer embargo, but manager Shaun Maloney steered his side to a comfortable mid-table finish, with a squad compiled of youth academy products, free agent signings and players signed by previous managers.
England youth internationals Sam Tickle and Charlie Hughes have rightfully gained many plaudits at the Brick Community Stadium, as well as external admirers, but Stephen Humphrys should also be given a great deal of credit for finishing the 2023/24 season as the Latics’ top goalscorer.
However, the Greater Manchester outfit have not retained the services of the former Rochdale man, who is available to other clubs as a free agent this summer.
Humphrys was a class act at times in the 2023–24 campaign. He finished with nine goals in 38 games, 24 starts, and Latics supporters will remember his brace from the team’s decisive 4-0 victory against archrivals Bolton Wanderers back in August.
The 26-year-old scored again in February when his team overcame Wanderers 1-0, but he won’t be playing for Wigan the following year.
Latics should look to Northampton for Humphrys replacement
After scoring an amazing 22 goals in the fourth division, Northampton Town star Sam Hoskins was a class act for the Cobblers as they were promoted from League Two to League One in the 2022–2023 season.
After that, the 31-year-old showed his mettle in League One, scoring 15 goals in 38 games to help Jon Brady’s team finish 14th in the 2023–2024 third division season.
Hoskins last played in the third division in 2023–24; during a dismal 2020–21 season that saw the Cobblers sent back to League Two, he scored just seven goals. However, he has since demonstrated his goal-scoring ability in League One.
With Humphrys released along with other attackers Charlie Wyke and Josh Magennis, the Latics could use a goal scorer like Hoskins.
Furthermore, Maloney and company may now focus on the 2024–25 play-off spots after the club’s transfer embargo was lifted. To lead their prospective top–six pursuit, they will need a forward like Hoskins.
Hoskins could be keen on Latics move
The former Yeovil Town man is a Cobblers stalwart, having signed for Northampton from the Somerset outfit in the summer of 2015, but he could feel as though now is the right time to depart the club he has represented for almost a decade.
During Hoskins’ nine-year tenure with his current club, they have never bettered their 14th place League One finish of the 2023/24 season, while it could be argued that the Latics have a much higher ceiling than that, having played Championship football as recently as 2022/23.
Furthermore, now that Hoskins is 31, he may be keen to pursue a shot at second tier football, and he could achieve this aim if the Latics sign him this summer.
Furthermore, the ace is a wide forward with a tendency to score goals; Humphrys fulfilled this function for Maloney in 2023–2024; therefore, Hoskins would be a perfect like-for-like replacement.
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