By support

4th Mar, 2018 | 6:32pm

Celtic must beat PL club in reported race for goalscoring midfielder and flog 25-year-old

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Celtic have been linked with a move for Wigan midfielder Nick Powell, who could be seen as a possible replacement for Stuart Armstrong.

The 23-year was reported as a Hoops target by Sun journalist Alan Nixon, who claimed on his personal Twitter account that the Hoops were in a race with Aston Villa and Premier League club Brighton to sign the goalscoring midfielder.

Powell, who has scored 12 goals in 33 appearances for the League One title contenders this term, could be seen as the man who could replace Armstrong as the Bhoys’ main attacking midfield threat.

Armstrong, whose contract runs out at the end of next season, will have to be offered a new deal for the Hoops, but the Scottish champions should decide to flog the 25-year-old.

The Scotland international, who scored 17 goals last season, only has three this season and Rodgers may look at Powell as a younger upgrade on Armstrong.

The Hoops will want to get any transfer business done quickly, so that any player who joins the club will be eligible to play in the Champions League qualifiers, which begin in July.

A move for the former Manchester United midfielder would be a sign that the Hoops aim to start their transfer dealings off with a bang as they look ahead to next season.

In other Celtic news, Dorus de Vries will have to prove his doubters wrong against Rangers 

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