Sources: Wigan Athletic closing in on deal to sign Leyton Orient's Sonny Perkins
Wigan Athletic are in advanced talks to sign Leyton Orient forward Sonny Perkins on a permanent deal, sources have told Football Insider.
Latics boss Gary Caldwell wants to bolster his attacking ranks this summer after they battled against relegation until the final weeks of last season.
The League One side want to stage a play-off push in 2026-27, with Max Power and Connor Barrett already through the door as new arrivals so far.
Perkins struggled to make an impact at Leyton Orient last season amid ongoing injury issues that restricted him to just five third tier starts.
Wigan are keen on a move for the right winger this summer, though, as they aim to tap into the potential he has shown in his short career so far.
Perkins is still just 22-years-old, yet has experience of playing in the top three tiers of English football and the Europa League.
Wigan advancing in talks to sign Sonny Perkins permanently
London-born Perkins started out at Orient, but joined West Ham's youth set up as a 15-year-old before going on to make his first team debut in the Europa League at just 17 in 2021.
He went on to feature again in the UEL and made his Premier League bow later in the 2021-22 season, but rejected their professional terms and joined Leeds United.
Perkins bagged his first senior goal in the FA Cup in January 2023, but struggled for game time under Daniel Farke and also failed to receive regular minutes on loan at Oxford United.
He registered six goals and assists each in 42 appearances for Orient during his first season at the club, as they made the League One play-offs.
The versatile forward found 2025-26 tougher, but is now expected to make a fresh start as he swaps the BetWright Stadium for the Brick Community Stadium soon.
Wigan also want to add Devon Matthews to Caldwell's new-look squad
The Latics need to add some centre-backs to their ranks after the departures of Jason Kerr, Will Aimson and Jack Hunt.
Sources have exclusively revealed to Football Insider that Accrington Stanley's Matthews is on Wigan's radar following an excellent League Two campaign.
The 26-year-old impressed throughout his first full season in the EFL as he featured 47 times in all competitions to help Stanley finish 16th.
They are facing competition for his signature from newly promoted third-tier side Notts County.