Latics' cutting edge needs to be much sharper but the question is will a top striker join a struggling side? It is highly unlikely, so Wigan's powers of persuasion need to be extremely good.
Wigan do play a decent brand of football at times but they have a tendency to switch off and self destruct.
A tough, dependable defender also would not go amiss.
Manager Roberto Martinez certainly needs an injection of quality from somewhere to simply lift Wigan but he will have to sell to raise sufficient funds.
Chairman Dave Whelan has already questioned some of the buys made by Steve Bruce this time last year, however, Wigan's squad is not big enough and there is a clear lack of quality.
Martinez must buy wisely. Short-term solutions could help and allow him to start from scratch in the summer with the players he wants and not those he has inherited.
It's an opportunity for Wigan to at least give themselves a chance of survival by buying sensibly.
BUDGET - £8m if they unload a few
TARGETS - Jackson Martinez (Independient Medellin) £6m, Waldo Ponce (Velez Sarsfield) £3m, Roger Rojas and Johnny Palacios (Olimpia Club) £4.5m joint deal, Charlie Adam (Blackpool) £2m, Michael Ball (free).
DREAM TARGET - Roque Santa Cruz (City) £18m - Would be an ideal buy to get the goals but he has already left one struggling club.
POSSIBLE DEPARTURES - Spurs and Sunderland are tracking Honduran left-back Maynor Figueroa. Wigan are expecting bids and could sell.
Paul Scharner continues to be linked with Everton and Fulham and is said to want European football.
Olivier Kapo and Daniel De Ridder could become surplus to requirements and Erik Edman may move to a Dutch club. Wigan may also listen to offers for Jason Koumas.
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Bizarre, £8m to spend if we unload a few? This despite barely dipping into the £33m we amassed from the sales of Heskey, Palacios & Valencia. At worst I reckon there is £12m to spend without the need to sell, something Bobby & Whelan have gone to great pains to stress that the club does not need to do.
I think the strength of Wigan's finances will surprise a few people, despite this though we still need to invest wisely, a big target man like Kris Boyd would be most welcome.