Pranav Nair
Burnley make £12million bid for Manchester United target Nathan Collins
According to The Sun, Burnley have made the first move to land Manchester United target Nathan Collins in the summer transfer window.
The Clarets view the 20-year-old Stoke City star as a priority and have had eyes on him since January. They have now made a bid of £12million and hope to secure the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international.
Stoke were hoping for the likes of United, Arsenal and Chelsea to enter the fray, leading to a bidding war. So far, it has not been forthcoming and they could very well accept Burnley’s offer.
Collins started his career at Irish club Cherry Orchard before joining the Stoke Academy in 2016. He made his first-team bow in 2019 and has since emerged as one of the Potters’ most promising starlets.
A colossus at 1.93m, he is a physical presence at the back. Collins has so far made 47 senior appearances, scoring three goals and making one assist. He is also capable of playing at right-back if needed. (h/t Transfermarkt)
The youngster missed half of the 2020/21 campaign with an injury. Burnley however are convinced that he can do a job for them off the bat.
Collins’ contract at Stoke runs until 2024. As things stand, Burnley hold the advantage when it comes to landing the player. There is every chance that they could eventually land him provided no new offers are made.
United technical director Darren Fletcher is a fan of the player. Whether he is keen enough to make a late bid remains to be seen.
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While Collins has undeniable potential, he is far from the finished product. At best, he is someone who can add depth to the United backline, maybe even playing the odd game. The chances of him being able to perform at the required level remain unlikely at this point in time.
The Red Devils are currently in the market for a centre-back. The club are better off bringing in someone established who can perform right off the bat.
