League One side Wigan Athletic is reportedly readying an approach for Bradford City midfielder Max Power this summer, a deal that would see the 32-year-old embark on a third spell with the Latics.
After a gruelling season last time out, spent battling relegation right up until the campaign’s dying embers, the club’s hierarchy now appears fiercely determined to right those wrongs with some decisive early business.
Gary Caldwell took the reins of a Wigan Athletic side mired in the League One relegation zone in February, with the former Latics player-turned-manager steering them to safety by a comfortable seven points. Now, with a summer of planning and recruitment ahead, the 44-year-old is poised to truly benefit from the fresh start a new season provides.
And the rumoured interest in Max Power makes perfect sense, given the pair worked together at the Tics back in 2015/16, during Caldwell’s debut managerial gig. Given their shared history at the club, bringing the versatile midfielder on board could prove to be a shrewd deal for the young boss.
Power To Cross The Pennines Again?
Power played a fundamental and near ever-present role for the Bantams last term, a season that saw them consistently within the play-off spots. The Wirral-born player featured in 51 games across all competitions, including both legs of their play-off semi-final loss to eventual winners Bolton Wanderers.
His well-respected pedigree was further highlighted when Graham Alexander appointed him club captain upon his arrival at Valley Parade last summer. After a strenuous season that ended in the bitter disappointment of a play-off defeat, Power might well be tempted by a switch to more familiar surroundings and former comrades.
Power still has a year left on his current contract in West Yorkshire, meaning Wigan would likely need to pay a substantial fee to prize him away. After guiding the Bantams so close to glory in his inaugural year, the former Sunderland man would likely seek significant assurances before departing from a project he’s already firmly invested in.
Wigan Athletic Prepared To Be Generous To Land Their Man
At this stage of his well-travelled career, Power will want to ensure his next move is the right one, and with Alan Nixon reporting that the Latics are ready to offer him a two-year contract, there’s a comforting stability to the move that could prove very reassuring.
It’s no surprise Wigan is scouting proven talent, and Power, who rarely let them down in his previous appearances that spanned over 200 games across two spells, certainly fits that description. Even at 32, he consistently shows an eye for defence-splitting passes and provides reliable set-piece delivery, attributes that could give Athletic a much more solid base to build from when the action resumes in August.
With just over 12 months left on his current Bradford City deal, accepting any forthcoming bid could be seen as a sensible move for both the club and the player. The transfer window doesn’t officially open until June 15th, but with the foundations of a deal already taking shape, a fee for Power would position Bradford very well for the two-and-a-half-month summer window.
While the Bantams seems well-positioned for another promotion assault next season under Graham Alexander, they might be hesitant to let their skipper go to a team with similarly lofty ambitions. For Gary Caldwell to guide his beloved Latics back to the Championship, players with extensive second-tier experience like Power could be invaluable in sparking upward momentum in this particular corner of Greater Manchester.
