Aston Villa are reportedly targeting Wigan Athletic talisman Nick Powell, who Steve Bruce knows from Hull City.
Nick Powell’s ability has never been in question. And the player once tipped to be the new Paul Scholes at Manchester United showed last season during Wigan Athletic’s march to the League One title that he belongs at a far higher level.
Powell was instrumental as Wigan sealed their return to the Championship while reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. He scored 15 goals and set up another eight in all competitions, capping his finest run of form since he earned that move to Old Trafford in 2012 after some outstanding displays for Crewe.
As a result, the Sun reports that Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce is hoping to reunite with a player he worked with during a 2016 loan spell at Hull City.
And, although Powell made just five appearances without scoring for the Tigers, it was clear just how highly Bruce rated him.
”Nick’s only 21, he’s a wonderful talent. I remember watching him play for Wigan in the Championship when he was 18 or 19 and he did very well,” Bruce told the Express in February 2016.
“He’s got fantastic talent and I’m not just looking at it for the next three months, I’d love to make (the loan deal) permanent if I could.”
It is reported by the Sun that it would cost £5 million to sign Powell. But, with Villa no longer stuck in a financial hell-hole, do not rule out the Midland giants making the one-time Manchester United wonder-kid their first big signing of the summer.
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