Arsenal and Manchester United are reportedly closely monitoring the progress of 22-year-old, highly-rated English goalkeeper Sam Tickle at Wigan Athletic.
According to a report by TEAMtalk, Sam Tickle is gaining popularity in the Premier League market. Arsenal and Manchester United are among the prospective suitors for the 22-year-old highly-rated Wigan Athletic goalkeeper. The Latics are aware of the growing interest and are bracing themselves for bids from the top-flight outfits.
Who is Sam Tickle?
Sam Tickle is the latest highly-rated English prospect to rise in prominence in the lower leagues of English football. The EFL Championship, EFL League One, and EFL League Two have witntessed the rise of many promising prodigies in recent years, with Archie Gray recently joining Tottenham Hotpsur after leaving Leeds United.
As for Tickle, the highly-rated goalkeeper has been with Wigan Athletic since 2012, when he was ten years old. While the 22-year-old shot-stopper broke into the first-team squad at the Brick Community Stadium in October 2021, he had to wait until the 2023/24 season to become a regular for the EFL League One club.
The English goalkeeper has turned out 65 times thus far for Wigan Athletic while keeping 26 clean sheets and conceding 68 goals. Tickle has a clean sheet rate of 70 per cent in the EFL League One this season. Meanwhile, the Englishman’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile Premier League clubs, including Arsenal and Manchester United.
Premier League move on the horizon?
Arsenal mulled over signing Sam Tickle in the summer transfer window before a move failed to see the light of day. The North London club landed Neto on a season-long loan deal from AFC Bournemouth on the deadline day but will likely return to the market for a goalkeeper next year. So, Tickle is a viable target for Arsenal, especially considering he will satisfy the homegrown quota.
As for Manchester United, the Red Devils might dip their toes in the market for a goalkeeper next year, with Altay Bayindir facing an uncertain future at Old Trafford. Recent reports have linked Manchester United with Anthony Patterson. However, Tickle is also an option worth considering.
With Arsenal and Manchester United vying for Sam Tickle’s services, a move to the Premier League might be on the cards. It will be interesting to see if the 22-year-old Englishman lands in the top flight next year.
