The January transfer window always throws up some unlikely deals and rumours, as clubs scramble to strengthen their squads in certain positions, and one such story to have emerged this month surrounds Wigan Athletic left-back Antonee Robinson.

It was reported earlier on this month that AC Milan are lining up a bid for Robinson - who only made his loan move from Everton to Wigan permanent last summer - and it now seems as though the Italian giants have made their move for the American international, with the latest reports claiming the Latics have rejected a £6.5million bid from the Serie A side for Robinson.

According to recent updates, French side Lyon have also joined Milan in taking an interest in Robinson, which could make it increasingly difficult for Wigan to retain the services of the 22-year-old.

Robinson has been one of the few positives for Wigan in an otherwise challenging campaign that sees the Latics fighting to stay in the Championship, meaning he will simply have to be replaced if he is to make the move to the continent before the transfer window closes late on Friday night.

Now, it appears as though Wigan have identified just who they will look to move for should they lose their first-choice left-back this month, after it was claimed that the club are interested a move for Colchester United's Cohen Bramall.

Having joined Arsenal as a 21-year-old in 2017, Bramall never made a senior appearance during his time with the Gunners, and instead spent his debut season with the club on loan in the Championship with Birmingham City.

During his time at St Andrew's, Bramall would again find first-team opportunities hard to come by, making just eight appearances in all competitions as the Blues finished 19th in the second-tier standings that year.

After returning to Arsenal in the summer of 2018, Bramall would spend the next 12 months or so on the sidelines, with his only game time coming for the club's Under 23s side, before he was released by the Gunners at the end of last season.

Following his departure from the Emirates Stadium, Bramall, signed a two-year deal with Colchester back in August, and it is from there that his career appears to have started to move in the right direction again.

For the first time since turning professional, Bramall is starting to enjoy a regular run of games, making 23 appearances in all competitions for his new club, and he certainly seems to be making an impact.

Not only did Bramall help Colchester to stun Premier League Tottenham in the League Cup  - a competition where they were eventually knocked out by Manchester United in a quarter-final at Old Trafford, a game in which Bramall also featured - but he is also starting to help his side mount a genuine push for promotion from League Two this season.

Tuesday night's 3-1 win over league leaders Swindon Town - in which Bramall played the full 90 minutes, apparently in front scouts watching from Wigan - saw The U's move to within three points of the automatic promotion places in the fourth-tier standings.

Indeed, with nine of Colchester's league wins coming in the 17 games Bramall has played - in comparison to just three wins in the 13 games he has missed - it certainly seems as though the 23-year-old is having a significant influence on that push for promotion.

With that in mind, the adaptability that Bramall has shown in stepping up to regular football this season ought to be an encouraging sign for Wigan, if they are forced to make a move for the left-back, in order to replace someone who has become such a vital cog in their battle against relegation this season.