Wigan forward Nick Powell has snubbed the chance to sign for Celtic this summer, according to Bleacher Report journalist Dean Jones.
The reporter claimed via his personal Twitter account on Tuesday that Powell, 25, is set to leave the DW Stadium and join Stoke City after turning down the Scottish Premiership champions.
Nick Powell is set to join Stoke City after turning down the chance to go to Celtic
— Dean Jones (@DeanJonesSoccer) June 11, 2019
Powell’s contract with Wigan expires at the end of this month, so it would appear as though Stoke are snapping up the former Manchester United on a free transfer.
OPINION
Powell might have been a good addition for Celtic. He scored eight goals and supplied seven assists in 32 Championship appearances for Wigan last season and he has shown flashes of quality that led to Man United signing him from Crewe when he was a youngster. However the former England Under-21 international is extremely injury prone and even though he was available for free, it might end up being a good job for Neil Lennon to have missed out on the forward. Powell missed over two months’ worth of league action for Wigan last season and in the 2016/17 campaign, he only managed 21 league appearances due to injury. Celtic have had injury issues of their own in the last couple of years and they do not need to be signing more players who are prone to a spell on the sidelines. Powell’s a good player, he just isn’t a risk that’s worth taking for the Bhoys.