The Whelan family has sold Wigan Athletic and the new owners have already set out a list of top priorities for the club. One of those is extending the contract of their playmaker Nick Powell who has entered in the final year of his contract after earlier reports suggested that the player had rejected a new deal last month.
Leeds United were one of the teams who were linked with him in the summer along with Scottish giants Celtic. The fact that Powell had rejected a contract earlier would have made the Whites excited about a possible move in January. However, they are in for a big blow as the new owners clearly want to keep hold of their best talents at the DW Stadium.
Powell can be a significant difference maker in the final third, and we are strong advocates of United returning to this summer target in January. The former Manchester United playmaker reads the game well, and his intelligence in the final third is one of his major assets. He likes to play in between the pocket of space between the midfield and defence line, and he has the ability to open up defences.
That is something which the Whites have lacked off late as they are dominating their games, but not able to create that special moment in the final third. Someone like Samuel Saiz has been well below par in the past month or so, and as a result, Bielsa had to drop him from the squad for Adam Forshaw who is more of a central midfielder but has done a better job than Saiz in the last few outings. Chelsea loanee Izzy Brown can also play that role, but it is no certainty that he would hit the ground running after such a long injury layoff.
The signing of Nick Powell would definitely boost the Whites immensely. The 24-year-old played a significant role last season in getting the Latics promoted to the Championship. He managed to find the back of the net 15 times and also went on to provide eight assists.
This season again, the English playmaker has been influential as he has racked up four goals and five assists. What should pique Whites’ interest even further is that he has the ability to play as a striker as well when required and his finishing skills are quite up to the mark.
Having entered int he final year of his contract, the Englishman is definitely going to be the subject of attention in the transfer window. However, the Wigan new owners are going to try everything in their means to tie him up to a new deal. A move to Leeds United should appeal the player as the West Yorkshire outfit are well placed to make it to the English top flight by next season.
