In the second part of our deadline day double-header, we conclude the series Buying from our Premiership Rivals by taking a look at the players from relegation favourites Wigan who could potentially improve our squad.

Since taking over from Paul Jewell in May, Chris Hutchings has overseen plenty of changes to his playing staff, with eight first teamers leaving and no less than nine new faces arriving at the JJB stadium this summer.

Mario Melchiot, a free signing from French side Rennes, was made club captain, and as well as adding former Newcastle players Antoine Sibierski and Titus Bramble, the former Bradford boss spent £5.3m on West Brom midfielder Jason Koumas and judging by the Welshman’s performances so far, it could be money well spent.

Last minute signings of Dutch winger Rachid Bouaouzan from Sparta Rotterdam and Marcus Bent on loan from Charlton have further strengthened Hutchings’ hand as the Latics look to avoid another relegation battle.

And a solid start to this campaign suggests they might just have the quality to do that. Seven points from four games represents their best start to a Premier League season and going into this weekend’s game with Newcastle, they sit in 3rd place on seven points, having played a game more than the Magpies. If their good start can be maintained, it would not be unrealistic to suggest the Latics could have a much better season than most experts have predicted.

One player who has always impressed when watching Wigan is the versatile Austrian Paul Scharner. Scharner, who has 12 caps for his country, joined the Latics from Norwegian side SK Brann for £2.5m in January 2006 and immediately endeared himself to the Wigan fans by dyeing his hair blue and white and then scoring the winner in a Carling Cup tie with Arsenal on his debut.

It is clear from his summer dealings so far that Sam Allardyce likes versatile players and Scharner, 27, certainly fits that bill. The Austrian has operated effectively in both midfield and central defence for both club and country and his adaptability could prove a real asset to this Newcastle squad, especially if injuries strike again.

Hutchings earmarked a midfield role for Scharner this season and he has been repaid with some typically solid and committed performances and a tremendous goal last weekend away at West Ham. In fact, wherever he has played for Wigan, he has popped up with goals - eight of them in just under two years. One thing Newcastle have failed to do in recent seasons is share goals around the team and Scharner’s ability to notch from midfield or defence is a major plus and would certainly go some way to eradicating that problem.

It is worth pointing out, though, that it is highly unlikely Scharner would be made available for transfer by Wigan and, given the players Sam Allardyce has signed this summer it is hard to see how he would get into the United first team. However he would be an excellent squad member and if the chance to sign him arises then Big Sam should definitely do it. Whether the player would want to go from the Wigan first team to the
Newcastle bench is another matter, of course.

As the transfer window draws to a close, the second Wigan player we will look at is right back Ryan Taylor. Twenty-three year-old Taylor joined the club from Tranmere for £1.25m in the summer of 2005 after impressing for the League one side. However, the arrival of Pascal Chimbonda and a series of bad injuries have hindered the Liverpudlian’s development and he has made only 32 first team appearances in his two years with the Latics.

Taylor won’t have happy memories of Tyneside as he suffered serious injury in the North East, breaking his leg in a reserve match at Newcastle. By the same token, Newcastle fans may not have the fondest memories of Taylor as most will remember him as the man who scored the winner when the two sides last met in February; bending a free kick past Shay Given from 25 yards on what was another miserable day for United at the JJB Stadium.

Taylor has pace and is certainly not afraid to get forward and help his team’s attack and, as United experienced, he can prove a threat from set pieces. Another thing noticeable when watching Taylor is that he gets a lovely shape on his crosses when in advanced positions. As he has matured, his defensive qualities have improved and this has turned him into an all round solid player with the potential to improve still further and, after his injuries, surely the hunger to prove himself in the Premier League.

Even with the imminent arrival of Marseilles captain Habib Beye, who is expected to come straight into the side at right back, a young player with Taylor’s ability would certainly be a welcome addition to Sam Allardyce’s squad. Not only would it further strengthen the back line by adding competition for places, it will surely hasten Steven Carr’s exit from the club, which, in the opinion of most Newcastle fans, can only be a good thing.

Would Taylor and Scharner be good acquisitions? Which other Wigan players should Sam Allardyce look at? After a good start, how will the Latics fare this season? Have your say below.