McManaman on Latics’ list of deal hopes

WIGAN Athletic are weighing up a move to bring Sunderland’s Callum McManaman back to the DW Stadium.

The Latics swapped places with the Black Cats last season, Paul Cook’s side clinching the League One title to return to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Cook is looking to strengthen his squad in a bid to avoid a relegation battle and is reported to have turned his attentions to Sunderland wideman McManaman and Norwich City’s Yanic Wildschut.

McManaman played a peripheral role in his first season with the Black Cats and could be one of the players the Wearsiders look to ship out of the Stadium of Light.

Reports suggest Wigan are keen on a loan deal but if it removes McManaman from the wage bill then Sunderland could be open to negotiations.

McManaman is a popular figure at Wigan - given he was man of the match in their famous FA Cup Final victory over Manchester City in 2013 - before joining West Bromwich Albion in January 2015.

Injuries and loss of form curtailed his game time for the Baggies and his move to Sunderland was supposed to help resurrect his career.

However, he has again suffered a series of injuries while on Wearside and struggled to hold down a regular first-team place under Chris Coleman.

New manager Jack Ross is in the process of planning his summer rebuild and while McManaman’s name has been largely absent from the list of those looking to move away this summer it is thought the Black Cats would sell if the price is right.

SUNDERLAND’S Wahbi Khazri is hoping to secure a move to the Premier League following his goalscoring exploits at the World Cup for Tunisia.

The 27-year-old was on the mark for his country in their 5-2 defeat by Belgium on Saturday, although the north African side are now out of the competition following England’s emphatic victory over Panama.

Khazri spent last season on loan in France with Rennes and several Ligue 1 sides have already expressed an interest in his services, while Turkish outfit Besiktas were reported to have offered a two-year loan deal.

That essentially amounts to a free transfer, Khazri’s deal at Sunderland following his £9m switch from Bordeaux in 2016 expiring in two years.