According to the latest reports from the Scottish Sun, Rangers are set to rival Celtic for the signature of former Manchester United playmaker Nick Powell. The midfielder plies his trade for Championship outfit Wigan Athletic and is currently in a contract standoff with the Latics.
Reports add that Rangers are planning to match the offer made by the Hoops to sign the English midfielder on a pre-contract deal. Along with the Glaswegian giants, clubs like RB Leipzig and Brighton and Hove Albion are also said to be monitoring the midfielder’s situation as the player is currently in the last six months of his contract.
Gerrard had earlier indicated (The Scottish Sun) that signing an out and out no. 10 was going to be his priority in January. It’s true that Powell is likely to join the club in the summer, but there is no doubt in our mind that the 24-year-old would be a massive coup for the Bears.
The midfielder made his name when he moved to Old Trafford to join Manchester United when he was just 19. However, in four years at Manchester, the 24-year-old found it hard to get regular game time. He had loan spells at Leicester City, Hull City and Wigan Atheltic.
He realised his true potential at the DW Stadium, and the Latics snapped him up on a permanent basis. Last season, one wouldn’t be wrong in claiming that Powell was one of the most crucial players in getting Wigan back to the Championship by winning the League One title as he scored 15 goals and assisted seven times.
What sets this former England u-21 international apart is his intelligence in the attacking half of the pitch. The 24-year old likes to play in between the defensive line and the midfielders and he has the knack of finding space. To go with that, his link-up play is also worth mentioning, and when required, he can fill in as a secondary striker as well.
Overall, the midfielder has the ability to dictate play in the Scottish Premiership, and the side he chooses might boss the Scottish division. Rangers cannot afford to let him join Celtic, and the Bears are definitely in need of a creative midfielder. Gerrard might have enough depth in midfield, but almost all of them are in a similar mould as they like to operate in central midfield and are industrious. Someone like Powell has that cutting edge to his game who can provide that killer pass in the final third and the manager should go all out to sign him.
