Nick Powell had been linked with a Steve Bruce reunion at Sheffield Wednesday.
But the out-of-contract Wigan Athletic midfielder won’t be joining the Owls in this summer’s transfer window, according to a report on the Stoke Sentinel website.
Instead, it is believed that Powell is edging closer to becoming a Stoke City player.
Powell played under the Wednesday boss, Bruce, at Hull City three years ago.
And Bruce is said to have wanted a permanent deal for the former Manchester United player that summer.
But Powell later joined Wigan instead – a move which according to the Daily Mirror partly instigated the 58-year-old’s resignation.
Bruce may, however, fare better with another of his former Tigers players.
Wednesday are currently in advanced talks to sign Moses Odubajo at the end of his Brentford contract, according to Football Insider.
The QPR manager, Mark Warburton, last week told a Talksport journalist that Odubajo has signed for a rival Championship club.