Nick Powell could be set for a surprise return to the Premier League with Southampton, Crystal Palace and West Brom all mulling over a deal.
Nick Powell may have failed to make the grade at Manchester United but his exceptional form at Wigan Athletic could have earned him a second chance at the top level.
According to TEAMtalk, Premier League trio West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace and Southampton are all interested in a player who was compared, somewhat ambitiously, to the likes of Wayne Rooney and Eric Cantona during his early days at Old Trafford.
The likes of West Brom and Southampton are crying out for more creativity from central midfield and Powell’s impressive stats for Wigan this season suggests that he is worth taking a chance on.
The one-time Crewe Alexandra wonder-kid has scored 11 goals in 23 League One games from an attacking midfield role and has established himself as arguably the best player in the division. He is a set-piece master and his ability to score from range would give his three Premier League suitors a different attacking dimension.
Although it would obviously be a risk for West Brom and Southampton to bet their survival prospects on a player who looked like a classic case of wasted potential during four largely uneventful years as a Manchester United player.
But TEAMtalk add that Wigan would be willing to accept offers of £1.5 million; pocket change in today’s inflated market and the sort of sum that Crystal Palace, West Brom and Southampton could pay without making even the slightest dent in their bank balance.
The question is, could Powell really be ready for a second stab at the big time?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
