Ex-Manchester United man Nick Powell has been spotted training with Crewe Alexandra’s first team – amid interest from Wrexham.
Powell was once dubbed as one of the next big things in English football, with former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson even once claiming he could be the ‘next Paul Scholes’.
Last week it was reported that the former United wonderkid is happily settled in South Cheshire, not far from Wrexham, and is open to dropping down two divisions to play for the Red Dragons.
However, bad news has emerged as the 29-year-old appears to be training with a League 2 rival club.
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Nick Powell trains with Crewe Alexandra
The Manchester Evening News reported that Nick Powell is training with League Two Crewe Alexandra after being released by Stoke City.
This is a huge blow for Wrexham, with Powell one of their ideal targets this summer. The deal between the two clubs did look close, with North Wales Live reporting that talks were at an ‘advanced stage’.
They did however also suggest that he is speaking to other clubs, so nothing has been finalised. These ‘other clubs’ were evidently Crewe Alexandra, who now are arguably the front runners to acquire his signature.
All isn’t lost, as Powell hasn’t put pen to paper – but this is a clear sign of where his head may be at. It really would be a fantastic deal to get over the line, with the Englishman not costing a single penny due to him being released from his previous club.
This would mean just his wages would have to be paid, leaving precious funds for other potential acquisitions.
Let’s hope the star power of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney can ultimately sway Powell towards Wales.