Sky Sports pundit Stephen Warnock has claimed that Wigan midfielder Nick Powell would find a move to Leeds United “very appealing” if they were to be promoted to the Premier League this season.
Leeds were linked with the 25-year-old last summer when TeamTalk reported that them, West Brom, Middlesbrough and a number of other clubs were interested in signing the former Manchester United player.
Wigan managed to fend off the interest and Powell has since played a key role in their fight for survival in the Championship.
Warnock played alongside Powell at the DW Stadium in the 2016/17 season, and he believes that Leeds would be signing a top player if they managed to snap up the attacking midfielder in the next transfer window.
“He’s arguably one of the best talents I’ve ever played with. The ability he has and the things he can do on a football pitch, other players just simply can’t do. He not only sees passes, but he executes them too,” Warnock told Football League World.
“If Leeds and Norwich go up, then he’ll be looking to go up with them. Norwich look to be up already, and a move to Leeds United under Marcelo Bielsa would be very appealing for him.
“The big thing for Nick is staying fit, if he can get a team of people around him at a club who look after him and wrap him in cotton wool when he needs it, then he is an asset for anyone. It’s no surprise that teams are wanting him.”
OPINION
Powell has done very well for Wigan this season when he has been available, but he is someone who has regularly had injury issues in his career and has missed 14 Championship fixtures for the Latics this term due to it. The former England Under-21 international has still played a key role at the DW Stadium, scoring seven goals and supplying seven assists in his 30 league appearances. He has managed to be involved in a goal in almost one in every two matches, which is very impressive for an attacking midfielder who has played for a team that is battling for survival at the foot of the table. Powell is not good enough for the Premier League though. He would definitely fit in at a top-end Championship club and Leeds should maybe have a go at signing him if they miss out on promotion. However if they do go up, Bielsa and Victor Orta will surely have their eyes on better targets.