Exclusive: Wigan Athletic submit third Benn Ward offer
Wigan Athletic have had a third bid rejected by Accrington Stanley for defender Benn Ward, sources have told Football Insider.
The Latics have made Ward one of their top targets in this month’s window and have seen multiple six-figure bids for the centre-back rejected.
A number of other clubs, including Stockport, Reading and Bradford are also weighing up moves for the former Burnley youngster.
Accrington are fighting their way up the table in League Two, and they are extremely reluctant to lose the 21-year-old, who has been one of their best players this season.
Accrington could be set to sell for big money once again
Football Insider revealed back in June that Peterborough had opened talks with Accrington over a move for Ben Woods, and they ultimately ended up landing the midfielder for a significant undisclosed fee.
The midfielder had starred for Accrington in their fight against relegation during the 2024-25 campaign, and then became the latest in a long line of players to make a move from the Wham Stadium to a club further up the EFL.
The likes of Cameron Burgess, Dion Charles and Kayden Jackson have all left the Lancashire outfit for big money in recent years, and Ward could be about to follow in their footsteps.
Accrington’s reluctance to sell will be tested if offers continue to pile in, and with several bids having already surpassed the £100,000 mark, there could end up being a very lucrative deal on the table by League Two standards.
Woods has already caught the eye in the first half of the season, and if he continues to underline his potential between now and the end of the campaign, then interest will only continue to grow.
Wigan eye additions to fend off relegation threat
Football Insider revealed last week that Huddersfield striker Joe Taylor was undergoing a medical at Wigan, and he has since become their first signing of the winter window.
Ryan Lowe’s side are among the lowest scorers in League One, so the arrival of a new frontman will be a welcome boost in terms of firepower.
The Latics now appear to be eyeing more reinforcements in their bid to fend off the impending threat of relegation.
Wigan are just one point outside the drop zone at the moment, and they desperately need to add more quality to their group if they are to pull away from the bottom four in the coming months.
Ward has been identified as a player who can come in and immediately strengthen their hand, but a deal will not come cheaply for them.