Wigan Athletic: Recent brilliance carries Stoke City, Nottingham Forest threat | OneFootball

Thelo Aasgaard's prolific Wigan Athletic form could tempt Nottingham Forest or Stoke City into purchasing his services

The story of Wigan Athletic's League One campaign so far has been one of inconsistency, while Latics supporters were left particularly frustrated with Tuesday night's defeat at the hands of Burton Albion, who previously sat bottom of the third tier table.

A disappointing defeat for Shaun Maloney's side left them 17th in the League One table, nine points above the relegation zone, and 11 points shy of the play-off places.

But while the Greater Manchester side are yet to enjoy an extended period of good form this term, attacking midfielder Thelo Aasgaard has often stolen the show, and boasts a serious attacking threat for a team who have otherwise struggled in front of goal.

Prolific Aasgaard form carries Stoke City, Nottingham Forest transfer threat for Latics

The Norway Under-21 international has posed a danger to his opponents all season, and has scored 12 goals in 30 appearances across all competitions this season, already bettering last campaign's career-best tally of nine goals in 39 outings.

But in recent weeks, Aaasgaard has hit new heights, as he has notched four goals in his last three games, including a brace during an FA Cup third round trip to Mansfield Town.

The 22-year-old's double in the cup handed his club an exciting fourth round encounter with Premier League Fulham, which will take place on Saturday 8th February.

But it was the manner of his brace against Mansfield which was a major talking point, as he expertly headed home his first goal, before firing an unsavable effort into the top corner with his weaker left foot just minutes later.

As if that wasn't enough to clinch the headlines, Aasgaard then went on to score a direct free-kick in the 95th minute to secure a 2-1 win for the Latics at Stevenage last Saturday.

Then, as has often been the case for Maloney's men this term, the Norway youth international's goal against Burton on Tuesday was the only positive during an otherwise bleak affair.

On the one hand, the Latics will be pleased that their academy graduate has hit top form as they approach the business end of the season.

However, the Tics are not the only club who admire Aasgaard's services, as he has caught the attention of Premier League Nottingham Forest, who are keen on prising him away from Greater Manchester during the current transfer window, as per Alan Nixon.

Meanwhile, as per a separate report by Nixon, Championship outfit Stoke City are interested in snapping up the 22-year-old's signature too, amid their second tier relegation battle.

If Forest and the Potters were already admirers of the gifted Latics man, surely his current form will leave them all the more eager to sign him up this window.

Latics may have no control over Aasgaard's destiny

Wigan boss Maloney recently hinted that there is a release clause in Aasgaard's current contract at the Brick Community Stadium, meaning that his side would not be able to block transfer advances for the attacking midfielder, in the event that the correct fee is reached, and he could leave the club in similar circumstances to that of fellow academy product Charlie Hughes last summer, who left for Hull City via a £3.5m release clause.

The Scot recently told Wigan Today: "He's our top scorer, and I'm counting down the days until the transfer (window) shuts.

"I'd love to keep him in our team, and also Sam (Tickle) as well, but Thelo has really grown in the last 18 months or so.

"He's only 22, but he's a real leader of the group, a real quiet leader of the team.

"Whenever there's real pressure on, and the opposition go man for man, he can take the ball under that pressure.

"He's also a massive goal threat for us, and I'm desperate to keep him in that No.10 shirt.

"There are some things in football you can control, and other things you can't.

"With Thelo, it is what it is.

"When you see someone produce what he can produce, you expect, like what happened in the last window (with Hughes).

"We have a strong owner now, and we don't need to sell, but this one's not as much in our control as others."

And while Aasgaard remains in his current vein of form, the Latics may have to brace themselves for the eventuality of that hinted, but undisclosed, release clause being activated by either Forest or the Potters.