Town striker Joe Garner has joined Wigan Athletic from the Blues for a fee of £1.25 million with the deal going through moments before the 5pm deadline. TWTD was first to break the news that the Latics had joined Bolton in targeting the 30-year-old earlier this afternoon.

In addition to the fee, the deal also includes top-up clauses, while the frontman has signed a two-year contract at Wigan.

“It’s a great club to be at and I’m excited to be here after speaking to the manager about his ideas, so I’m looking forward to getting out there and helping the lads out,” Garner told iFollow Latics.

“I know how he likes his teams to play and have watched them for quite a few years. He plays attractive football and the result last weekend was a good result so hopefully we can have a few more of them.”

He added: “We had a good year at Ipswich last year and there’s a great group of lads down there. It seems to be very similar here and the boys are a tight group so I’m happy to be on board.

✍️ CONFIRMED: We are delighted to announce the signing of Joe Garner from @Official_ITFC for an undisclosed fee.

More 👇https://t.co/uFemy905b3#wafc 🔵⚪️💚 pic.twitter.com/s594Jk9nZ8

— Wigan Athletic (@LaticsOfficial) August 9, 2018

“Hopefully I can add a few more goals and contribute as much as I can. It’s a tough league and there’s some good teams in it. I think we can hold our own though and push on right up there.”

Garner joined Town from Rangers for a fee of £750,000 in June 2017 and the Blackburn-born frontman scored 10 goals in 29 starts and three sub appearances during 2017/18 before his season was curtailed by a small fracture to his skull.

During his spell out towards the end of the season, the former Preston, Nottingham Forest and Carlisle man underwent surgery for shoulder and knee problems.

Having scored the only goal in the behind-closed-doors friendly against Kilmarnock in Spain, a knee injury prevented Garner from taking any further part in pre-season and he wasn’t ready to be included in the 18 for Saturday’s Championship opener against his hometown club.

Garner was understood to be keen to return to his native North-West with his children based in that region.

Town boss Paul Hurst will now look for another striker with EFL clubs able to sign players on loan until the end of the month.

Meanwhile, Wigan have also confirmed the capture of Blues target Josh Windass, 24, from Rangers for £2 million, signing a three-year deal.

Photo: Action Images

WaffleMan added 22:28 - Aug 9 @toxteth blue, mariner. Who is Morrison lol
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toxtethblue added 22:32 - Aug 9 Ha Harrison 😂
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Tractorboy1985 added 22:33 - Aug 9 Morrison??? I mean... this just sums up the mentality on here!! Clueless!!! Thank god we have Hurstison!
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michaeldownunder added 22:33 - Aug 9 All the people moaning about Marcus Evans saying he should have paid the extra for Tilt and Windlass, maybe it was Paul Hurst who told him the max we should pay for the players. I don't know do you?
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micky_1560 added 22:37 - Aug 9 I prefer the idea of seeing how the new guys fit in and what we still require in 6 months time, rather than rushing everything now. Don't forget this is a rebuilding season. As for another striker, on the one hand people want the youngsters given a chance and then call for spending on strikers... I think the youngsters can fill in when required. Also don't forget, loans cost money in wages, Garners fee could be spent in this way. COYB

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BobbyPetta11 added 22:53 - Aug 9 I have a feeling Wigan may have laid down the law & advised us to stay away from Windass or the Garner deal is off! Good business in my eyes! Let's get Tilt on a loan deal with an option to buy & another young striker from the lower leagues. Even if it takes us a year to find our feet, I have a feeling we will be on the edge of our seats at times watching this young talented crop!

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terryf added 22:55 - Aug 9 Go back to Oyston and say we'll pay your inflated price of 1m, take Tilt on loan and complete the deal in January.
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ldnj added 22:57 - Aug 9 Pressure's on the newbies now, as of last season's scorers the highest still at ITFC got 4. With a lot of change they need to show they can gel quickly or the competitiveness of the division could leave them on the back foot. More nervous now but here's hoping they can step up.
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soclopath added 23:01 - Aug 9 My worry is the amount of inexperienced young players we will be playing,it's OK during the early season, when the going gets tough and the playing surfaces get tougher how will these youngsters cope.
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TimmyH added 23:05 - Aug 9 Yet again Jas0999 talking sense but gets largely voted down!?!... a lot of inexperience coming in at this level and experience upfront leaving the club (without Waghorn and Garner last season we would have been fending off relegation). I can understand fans backing Hurst and his ideas as a new manager but makes me wonder if he's over stepping the mark a bit...he's taking a big gamble.

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TimmyH added 23:12 - Aug 9 and as others have said Evans £4M+ to the good at the end of the window, leaves me with a bit of a sour taste in the mouth...
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runningout added 23:20 - Aug 9 Weighing up our squad it looks better, and would like to think we haven't finished. Onwards and upwards he says
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Palestine added 23:22 - Aug 9 Tilt please
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Bert added 23:27 - Aug 9 The old regime has been ousted but Waghorn and Garner were the reason we stayed up last season with a bit of help from Bart. The youngsters and incomers will need to step up if Hurst's plan is to bear fruit. Lots of risks but hopefully worth taking to bring entertainment back to PR and a promotion push within two years. Credit to Evans for backing his man and listening to supporters.

5

Bluesparx added 00:39 - Aug 10 A few guys have mentioned already...not short on strikers, still have Sears who has only been waiting 3 plus years to be played in the right position....and Morris, folami
2

Guthrum added 00:47 - Aug 10 So we should just pay the Oystons whatever they demand for Tilt? Doesn't sound like a good way to do business. Rather get a decent young Prem loan like Carter-Vickers again.
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blueherts added 03:53 - Aug 10 It is called change fellas . New era . Work in progress . Bart has been the real difference and keeping him was absolute priority . Garner was not gonna feature and £6m for him and Waghorn great business . Hurst is first manager in years to be building a team that fits rather than peace meal . It will take abit of time but with loan window open plus Sears and Morris we will be fine . Bart was the key for me to stay this season. Lets move on get behind and trust Hurst . It is change . Harrison Edwards Nolan and Jackson is as exciting a line up we could have in many a year . Enjoy .

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shakytown added 04:46 - Aug 10 Leave it to Hurst because it's going to take a while to get all the players in he wants so as long as the money is there when he needs it it's ok by me.
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harlingblue added 04:54 - Aug 10 Garner worked hard for the team, not only up front, but a great deal of work when defending corners etc. Hopefully we have defensive players that can now do that, and then allow offensive players to concentrate on scoring goals.
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thundercat600 added 05:20 - Aug 10 With all of the lower division players that have been brought in we are already out of the championship. All of you MM out people are getting what you wanted as not only has MM left but some of our best players have followed him, I hope that I am proven wrong but it would seem that the bookies prediction on Town drop out of the Championship is about to materialise. We now have a manager from a lower division that no one else wanted, followed by players who are just the same. It looks like we have flogged off our silverware and replaced this with copper

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jabberjackson added 05:43 - Aug 10 News flash Football is a risk business No risks taken and we will continue to go backwArds Roll the dice, take some chances, we may just make some progress We may struggle too But I'm prepared for either eventuality, and I'm strapping in... Who is up for the ride?
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harlingblue added 05:48 - Aug 10 We had no silverware ounder MM., He couldn't care less about the cups, or the fans, even when 8,000 went to Trafford Park to witness a reserve team played in the honour of our club, he lost his way from that day. We may struggle in the league this year while new players gel, but I bet that we have more fun in the cup competitions this year.
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Northstandveteran added 06:29 - Aug 10 Echoing my sentiments from an earlier post Mickey_1560. Hurst doesn't have to spend every penny received now. Come the next window he will have a better idea of the players he needs and where to strengthen. Why spend all his pocket money now and regret it later?
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ipswich134 added 07:39 - Aug 10 I believe in NO VENTURE NO GAIN ! So I am going to sit up and support the team ! New ERA . Let's enjoy it !
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BlueandTruesince82 added 07:44 - Aug 10 Why should this leave a bad taste. A. The Windass deal was held up by Bolton. Wigan had already signed Windas when they moved for Joe. B. We doubled our Money on a 30 yr old scrapper (no disrespect there, liked Joe) who has has missed most of pre season. C. 2 new lads plus Sears still here, given we only play 1 central striker that's seems adequate D. Folami and Morris both have a chance to make a case E. We will get someone on loan (and I think Folami may go out himself,.woukd be good for him). On the whole who knows how it will pan out this year but getting 1.5 mill out of Garner, amazing.

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