Season Preview: Wigan Athletic

Overall Outlook - It's hard to know what to expect from Wigan's roster shuffling thus far.  More importantly, the question is whether that shuffling - specifically the "headed out the door" part is yet complete for the summer.  There have been persistent rumors that either N'Zogbia or Rodallega will be departing for clubs farther up the table.  If either of those players departs, the outlook at Wigan will be dramatically different than it would be with them.  There seems to be a growing base of solid talent but N'Zog and Yayga are the only two who have proven themselves to be potential match-winners.  While neither are so exceptional that they are going to push Wigan firmly into the top half, the lack of a couple proven match winners is going to make it very difficult for them to stay out of a relegation battle.  If both players stay, I predict something in the 13th to 16th place finish area.  If one goes then they'll probably survive but only just barely.  If both go, then we'll be seeing Roberto Martinez back in the Championship next season.

Wigan Athletic sign Mauro Boselli from Estudiantes

Wigan Athletic sign Mauro Boselli from Estudiantes

Wigan have confirmed the signing of striker Mauro Boselli from Estudiantes for an undisclosed fee.

Boselli, 25, has agreed a four-year contract at the DW Stadium after scoring 32 goals in 52 appearances for the Argentinean club.

Roberto Martinez told the official Wigan website: "Mauro is a goalscorer who lives to put the ball in the back of the net and he is somebody we have been looking at for a long time.

27 goals in 42 matches in all competitions in 2009/10 including the Copa Liberatores (4 in 9!) which is the South American version of the Champions League.

Wigan became something of a joke by the end of last season, but there are signs that Martinez is coming to grips with things. Certainly he is moving in the right direction in the transfer market. His team will have a strong South American flavor next season with Boselli and Alcaraz joining established players like Figeuroa and Rodallega. Granted there's not much history of South American's having a great time of it in the Premier League, but maybe that's changing with the aforementioned Wigan duo, and the likes of the more high-profile Carlos Tevez or Javier Mascherano.