Wigan Agree Fee For Celtic's Shaun Maloney

By Simon Gallagher / August 31, 2011

Wigan Athletic look set to bolster their ranks with the acquisition of Celtic winger Shaun Maloney after agreeing a fee believed to be in the region of £1m with the Galsgow club. Maloney is now set to head to the DW Stadium for talks, amidst rumours that he is keen on a return to Premiership football having joined Celtic from Aston Villa in 2008. Blackpool were said to be interested in the midfielder, who spent 18 months at Aston Villa, but Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has backed up his club's interest with a firm offer for the Malaysian born Scottish international:

The lad is interested in coming to play in the Premier League, that's for sure. Roberto is a big fan of Scottish football lads. He knows they've got a big heart and he knows they fight. And, once they adjust to the pace of the Premier League, we've had some very good lads from Scotland. Roberto is an excellent judge of football and footballers. If Roberto says to me that he thinks this lad can make it, I am 99 per cent sure that the lad can make it.

Provided he passes a medical and agrees personal terms, Maloney will join fellow wing acquisition Albert Crusat, who joined yesterday from Spanish club Almeria.