Sunderland's League One rivals Wigan Athletic reveal details of their audacious bid for Will Grigg

Grigg, who has fallen down the pecking order on Wearside, was a target for a number of League One clubs in January – with Oxford United and Shrewsbury Town keen on striking a deal before the striker eventually joined MK Dons on loan.

It will be the 29-year-old’s second stint at stadium:mk, but he could have ended up at another former club had things gone differently.

Wigan, whom Grigg left to join Sunderland in 2019, made a loan bid to bring the striker back to the club during the winter window.

Paul Stanley, one of the club’s administrators, said they knew the return of the popular forward would have been a ‘massive lift’ for the club’s fanbase – and insisted the Latics didn’t miss out because of money.

But he wasn’t able to precisely put his finger on why a deal didn’t materialise.

Stanley told Wigan Today: “The manager got every single player he wanted apart from one...Will Grigg. And we did try to go as high as we possibly could for that one, we even went back for one last go.

“The issue was Shrewsbury, Oxford and MK Dons were all in for him, and we just couldn’t get him. The issue wasn’t money – bearing in mind he’s still being paid by Sunderland, who are covering the lion’s share of his wages.

“We were prepared to match whatever any of the other clubs were paying, and ultimately it came down to the player. I know Leam has a very good relationship with him, and he’d been speaking to him throughout the month.

“From a football point of view it would have been fantastic to get him back, because he’s obviously a proper cult hero here.”

“Leam actually said to me: ‘I didn’t think we’re going to get him’,” he continued.

"I went back to him and said: ‘Find out how much he’s getting elsewhere’.

“All of the clubs are working to a salary cap, we’re nowhere near ours at the moment, so we did have some room to move.

“If it wasn’t a big difference, we were prepared to go to it. But whether Sunderland decided where he went, or the player made the final decision...I don’t know.

“I don’t know if Sunderland would also have had an issue with it being Wigan...having paid so much for him two years ago...effectively paying him to come back here.

“I don’t know, I’ve not spoken to Sunderland or Will, I just know Leam was keen, and obviously it would have given the place a massive lift.

"It wasn’t to be, but we wish him well and we’re very pleased with how our squad looks for the rest of the season.”

Grigg will now look to rediscover his best form at Milton Keynes, whom face Sunderland in League One this weekend.

The striker is not eligible to face his parent club, though.

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