Stoke City manager Nathan Jones has set his sights firmly on out-of-contract midfielder Nick Powell, after the 25-year-old rejected a new deal at the DW Stadium, as reported in the Daily Mail.

Former Manchester United youngster Powell, has been at Wigan since 2016 and this season chipped in with eight goals and six assists in 32 appearances for the Latics.

So, would Powell make it into the current Stoke starting XI?

We discuss........

Gary Hutchinson

“Absolutely, what a player this boy is.

“They’ve had too many midfielders who are functional; Allen, Woods and Clucas to name three.

“Powell is different, he has a spark of creativity and a real drive to get forward.

“He would be a tremendous signing for them.”

Alfie Burns

“They were short of that link player between midfield and attack all of last season, so you’ve got to say he’d walk in.

“Powell is a classy operator in the No.10 role, he’s got a good touch, an eye for goal and he really should be playing a lot higher in the footballing ladder.

“If Jones can get an arm around him and make him feel like the key man at the bet365, he could do wonderful things for the Potters.

Toby Wilding

"I would start him if I were Nathan Jones.

"Stoke's attack has been the main thing that has cost them this season, with only the bottom two sides scoring fewer.

"Powell offers the sort of creativity and incisiveness to an attack that would change that, and given Stoke's other options haven't covered themselves in glory, you feel Powell deserves his chance to show what he can do for the Potters, should he make the move."

Louie Chandler

"He'd walk into their team.

"Powell is one of the division's best and most reliable performers and in a position where Stoke were badly lacking last season.

"With him behind the striker and Tom Ince out wide, things will start to take shape."