"Similar profile to Macaulay Langstaff" - Wigan Athletic urged to swoop for 26-year-old | OneFootball

Ronan Hale has been linked with a move to the Latics

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

FLW's Wigan Athletic fan pundit has urged the Latics' chiefs to pursue a deal for Ross County striker Ronan Hale, after recent reports emerged of their interest in securing a deal for the Northern Irishman in the summer transfer window.

Wigan struggled in League One last season, but there are positives to take into the next campaign after Ryan Lowe was appointed as head-coach in March following Shaun Maloney's sacking and led his new side on a run of just one loss in their final 10 league games.

Lowe will now be aiming to bolster his squad with new additions that he feels are able to push the Latics higher up the table in 2025/26, while keeping hold of key men, such as standout goalkeeper Sam Tickle.

Wigan ended the recent campaign as the lowest scorers in the third-tier, with just 40 strikes in 46 games, so it is clear that his priority will be to add quality and depth to his forward options before any other position this summer.

Latics urged to complete Ronan Hale deal - he would be a 'great option' for Ryan Lowe to have

Ross County marksman Hale has bagged 15 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions this season, with his latest strike coming late on against Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership bottom-six group to keep the Staggies' hopes of avoiding the relegation play-off spot alive.

His impressive form so far this term has alerted numerous clubs south of the border to his potential availability this summer, with a move on the horizon seeming particularly likely if County are unable to avoid the drop.

Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke has claimed that Wigan are interested in a move for the 26-year-old ahead of the summer window, while fellow League One sides Luton Town and Reading are also a part of the chase for his signature.

The Latics clearly need attacking reinforcements as soon as possible, and FLW's Wigan fan pundit, Corey Bissell, has urged the club to sign Hale in the coming months, as he believes he would be a solid addition to their ranks alongside other potential arrivals up-front.

“I really like the link to Ronan Hale. We were linked with him just before he went to Dundee a year or so ago, but I really like the link,” Corey told FLW.

“For me, he has got a similar profile, I’d say, to Macaulay Langstaff. (He has) scored goals in Ireland, scored goals in Scotland…he’s got to tick off England now, I suppose.

“Obviously, we’re in the hunt for three strikers, it seems, in this window, so Hale would certainly be a good start to that.

“Niall Ennis is linked as well. I think the important thing for us is that we are going to be starting two strikers in every game, so Ennis, if does join, would be one of them, and Hale would be the other one.

“Maleace Asamoah is a great option to have off the bench, and then signing another striker on top of that, you’ve got more than enough firepower there among four strikers.

“Ronan Hale is a great option to have within a club that could have four strikers.”

Hale would be a smart signing for Wigan - League One feels like a natural step for him

Hale is unproven in English football as yet, but his career exploits so far represent a centre-forward who clearly has a natural ability at finding the back of the net, as he has scored regularly for numerous different clubs in his native Ireland, and now also in Scotland with Ross County.

The Belfast-born attacker was once on Birmingham City's books, and was prolific for their under-21 side before he enjoyed his first taste of senior football out on loan at Derry City in 2018.

He soon left Blues permanently in 2019 to join NIFL Premiership side Crusaders, and a spell at St Patrick's Athletic followed before he joined Larne in 2020 and really started to find his feet in front of goal.

Hale bagged 27 goals in 77 appearances for the County Antrim club, including numerous strikes in the Europa Conference League, and so earned a 2022 move to Cliftonville.

The 26-year-old improved even further with the Reds, as he enjoyed successive double-figure hauls for league goals in 2022/23 and 2023/24, and helped them win their first Irish Cup since 1979 with a brace in his final game for the club in a 3-1 win over Linfield.

He signed a three-year deal with Ross County last summer, but less than a year on, and he could well depart to join a League One club. A move to English football certainly feels like the next natural step for him to take in his career, and Wigan would be a good side to join as they aim to stage a play-off push next season.