Queens Park Rangers have identified Wigan Athletic‘s Sam Tickle as a key target as part of their rebuild of the goalkeeping department this summer.
The West London side have a big task on their hands in the coming months, having already confirmed that both Paul Nardi and Ben Hamer will depart at the end of this season, while Joe Walsh signed a new contract at the start of this season.
Tickle Eyed For Cut-Price Deal
According to Alan Nixon, QPR have now set their sights on the 24-year-old Tickle, who has attracted multiple suitors in recent years for his stellar performances for Wigan, earning himself a place in the League One Team of the Season in the 2024/25 campaign.
Those performances alerted sides like Preston North End and Sunderland in 2024, but the shot stopper remained at the Latics and thwarted any further interest from Sheffield United by signing a new four-year deal 12 months ago.
Arsenal have also previously shown interest in recruiting him for their academy ranks, but Tickle ultimately opted to stick in senior football and earned his place as the number one in Greater Manchester.
Now, it is believed that The R’s are gearing up for a bid, with Nixon stating that a fee in the £1.5 million to £2 million range could be on the cards if a deal is completed, a figure lower than previous attempts to buy would have had to fork out.
Tickle played every single game for his side in League One this season, providing two assists in the process, in what was a rather underwhelming campaign which saw Ryan Lowe sacked and replaced with Exeter City head Gary Caldwell.
Big Sale Could Spur Latics On
In his first transfer window at Wigan Athletic, Gary Caldwell will face a big decision on what to do with some of his star players like Sam Tickle as he looks to get the Latics back on their feet.
Securing a seven-figure fee for a crucial player could be pivotal to their future chances in rebuilding the squad, but it is something that might not be necessary if owner Mike Danson opts to sell up in the coming weeks and months.
Despite having a weaker season than his first two in Greater Manchester, Tickle is still a crucial asset to his side’s fortunes, and while a sale might be necessary in order to generate some financial muscle in the upcoming market, it should not be an easy decision for the club to sanction his exit.
Tickle Deserves Move
As much as Wigan do hold the bargaining chips with three years of his contract still to play out, Sam Tickle might now view this as a perfect opportunity to step up and make good on the plaudits he has earned.
Stagnation by the Latics has perhaps dampened the excitement circling the 24-year-old this season, who was touted as the best in the EFL by former manager Shaun Maloney two years ago.
Queens Park Rangers would be a good destination for him to head to this summer, with a place as the first choice seemingly guaranteed after Paul Nardi’s exit, but may face some competition from Joe Walsh at Loftus Road.
Julien Stephan’s side have a good track record when it comes to developing talent, with Eberechi Eze moving on to become an England regular at Crystal Palace, something that Tickle will want to repeat in the coming years.
