Oldham Athletic are in the pursuit of Bamber Bridge's 20-year-old midfielder Archie Lang, who has become an important player for the club. Lang joined Bamber Bridge from North West Counties League Division One North side Thornton Cleveleys in November 2025 and has established himself as an integral part of Jamie Milligan's side. The EFL season got underway this weekend, with Stockport and Oldham both starting their respective league campaigns with victory, whilst Wigan fell to defeat at Cambridge United despite a late resurgence. However, the Northern Premier League season has been up and running for a couple of weeks already for Bamber Bridge, who picked up their first victory of the campaign over Ashton United on Saturday, with Lang playing 90 minutes. Lang, who currently works as a driver alongside his commitment to Bamber Bridge, could now be the next non-league gem in line to make the leap into the professional scene, as EFL clubs continue to explore the lower leagues to unearth diamonds.

What happened? EFL trio Wigan Athletic, Stockport County and Oldham Athletic are all in pursuit of Bamber Bridge hotshot Archie Lang, according to reports. Lang, 20, joined the Brig from North West Counties League Division One North side Thornton Cleveleys in November 2025, and has become an important player for the club, which has attracted interest from clubs higher up the pyramid. Bamber have already turned down an offer this summer from National League outfit AFC Fylde, citing a need to "protect the interests of Bamber Bridge FC". However, according to a fresh report from journalist Alan Nixon via his Patreon page, EFL trio Wigan, Stockport, and Oldham are all keeping tabs on the powerful young midfielder.

Why it matters for Oldham Oldham Athletic's pursuit of Archie Lang could be a significant move for the club, as they look to strengthen their midfield. Lang's impressive performances for Bamber Bridge have caught the attention of several EFL clubs, and Oldham's interest in the 20-year-old midfielder could be a sign of things to come.

What comes next? With the EFL season now underway, Oldham Athletic will be looking to make a statement in their next few games. The club's pursuit of Archie Lang could be a key factor in their success, and fans will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of the transfer saga. League standing: 4th in League Two, 3 pts, 1W-0D-0L from 1 games, recent form W. Goals this season: 2 scored, 0 conceded (+2 goal difference). Next fixture: vs Chesterfield (away, 2027-02-20) (17th in the table).