Wigan Athletic in the money thanks to Portsmouth-Preston North End transfer
Wigan Athletic are in line for a cash windfall understood to be a significant six-figure sum after Callum Lang swapped Portsmouth for Preston North End shortly before Monday night's transfer deadline.
The 27-year-old forward left Latics for Pompey in January for a fee in the region of £400,000.
Included in the deal was a sell-on should the Liverpudlian be sold by Portsmouth at a profit.
And with Preston confirming the deal was a new 'club record fee' - thought to be more than £2million - Latics are awaiting a very welcome second ‘earner’ on the Academy product.
Lang was keen to return to the north west as his wife is pregnant, and he has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at Deepdale.
“I’m really happy to be here," said Lang. "It’s been a late one, quite last-minute, but I'm really excited to get going.
"I think this was a good move for me. I'm really thankful for my time at Portsmouth, but I feel like this next step was the perfect one for me.
“I'm excited about what the club's trying to do here, and I think I can really help on the pitch also. I know what I can do at this level, and I'm really excited to do so and show the fans what I can bring as a player.”
Lang joined Latics at the age of 14, and made 143 appearances for the club, netting 31 goals.
During that time, he helped Latics pull off the greatest of Great Escapes in 2020/21 while in administration, and picked up a League One title-winners' medal the following season under Leam Richardson.
“I’m delighted," said Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom. "It's been a tough one to get over the line and get done.
"We've worked really hard to get the deal done, so delighted we could get it over the line in the end.
“He brings Championship experience; he’s scored goals wherever he's been. He is a versatile attacking player, but we're really clear about how we want to use him.
"Getting him in the box, being really aggressive to attack the ball and being really aggressive out of possession as well.”
In a later message addressed to the Portsmouth fans, Lang wrote: "I am really grateful to have had the opportunity to play for this amazing football club. It has been an honour to call Fratton Park home for the last two years.
"From my debut away at Oxford, I felt an instant connection with this club and its fans and never looked back since. I’ve had so many special memories here that will stay with me forever.
"The night we got promoted, my first professional hat-trick at Fratton and surviving relegation last season after a tough start. It was a season to be proud of!
"It’s hard saying goodbye because of how much I have enjoyed my football here, but now is time for my next challenge.
"I couldn’t have wished to share the dressing room with a better group of lads and work with staff who I feel have helped me improve massively as a player.
"I am thankful to everyone involved at Portsmouth Football Club and the fans for a special atmosphere every week."
Meanwhile, Latics also spent deadline day with one eye on the situation of their former striker Josh Stones at Nationals League high-flyers York City.
Stones joined the Minstermen from Latics 12 months ago, and has since scored 16 goals in 49 appearances - most of which have come off the bench.
That form has already caught the eye of a number of clubs north and south of the border, who were believed to be lining up a possible January move.
Top of that list were reportedly Barnsley, who sold their star man Davis Keillor-Dunn to Championship promotion chasers Wrexham on deadline day for a fee in excess of £2million.
In the end, their pursuit of Stones didn’t come to fruition – and it saved Latics from having to make a very important decision, while they were on with other stuff.
As part of the agreement in the sale of Stones to York, Latics ensured they have first refusal should the non-leaguers choose to sell the player on at a profit.
That means they can bring Stones back to Wigan for the same price that has been agreed with the rival club.
As no club has yet to get to that point, Latics have not had a decision to make, but it’s a situation that could well be revisited come the summer.
Of course, if Latics were to decide against activating that first refusal, they also have a significant sell-on agreement to fall back on, which would see them receive a significant percentage of any profit made by York.