Manchester United transfers: Who is Nathan Collins? The Stoke City starlet recommended by ex-Red Devil Darren Fletcher

Manchester United look set to land Nathan Collins from Stoke City during the summer.

The 18-year-old centre-back is highly rated and made his senior debut in April for the Championship club.

Nathan Collins has represented Republic of Ireland at under-17 levelCollins could be seen as a long-term solution to United’s central defensive issues, which have been evident this season.

If the Red Devils sell Marcus Rojo and Eric Bailly in the summer then they will be left with just Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Victor Lindelof.

The youngster could also be seen as somewhat of a cheaper option than the rest of the central defenders available, such as Matthijs de Ligt and Toby Alderweireld.

Nathan Collins factfile

Age: 18

Height: 6ft 4

Position: Centre-back

Senior appearances: 3

Place of birth: Leixlip, Republic of Ireland

Here at talkSPORT.com we have everything you need to know about the defender.

Where did Stoke sign him from?

Collins joined Stoke in June 2017 from Irish club Cherry Orchard and has been with the club ever since.

He has also played for the Republic of Ireland at the under-17 European championship.

What have his coaches said about him?

“I wouldn’t have put him on the bench if he wasn’t ready,” Stoke boss Nathan Jones told the Stoke Sentinel. “We have enough senior pros here we could have played without a problem, but I have no problem with picking him because he’s been in that vein of form.”

“He’s trained with us and we were always looking to give him a game before the end of the season because he’s earned that.

“He’s been excellent in training and how he’s done stuff and when he came on at Swansea he didn’t look out of place in any way, shape or form. That’s the confidence of the lad.

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“There are certain things he still has to learn and do well, but the future is bright for the boy. He’s only 17 and that’s wonderful for us. Age is not an issue.”

Outgoing academy director Gareth Jennings had said at the start of the season: “He’s been doing well in that under-23s environment and I don’t think it’s beyond him to get around the first team.

“I look at clubs in League One and League Two and he is already better than some defenders at that level.”

Why do Manchester United want him?

Collins was recommended to the Red Devils by Darren Fletcher who believes the young centre-back is a star in the making.

Fletcher spent 12 and a half seasons with the club where he won five Premier League titles.

Darren Fletcher has recommended Collins to his old club

Family history

His father, Dave Collins, was on the books at Liverpool before spells at Wigan and Oxford United while his uncle, Eammon Collins, played for Southampton and Portsmouth among others.

Collins’ older brother, Josh, plays for League of Ireland Premier Division side University College Dublin.

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