Nathan Collins is very highly thought of at Stoke City.
Having only made his first team breakthrough during the 2019/20 season, he would go on to captain the side on a number of occasions.
The Leixlip native has been a fixture in their team this season, with his 22 appearances in the Championship being limited only by a couple of injury issues.
He could well have been a part of the Ireland senior squad for the March internationals had he been fit, with a June call-up looking likely. Not bad for a player who only turns 20-years old tomorrow.
Collins certainly has a big future in the game, although it remains to be seen if it will be at Stoke City. It should come as no surprise that his form has drawn the attention of other clubs, and with his current team lingering in Championship mediocrity, it could be time for to take the next step in his career.
One Premier League club are reportedly keen to prise him away from the bet365 Stadium in the coming months.
Football Insider are reporting that Burnley are keen to sign Nathan Collins this summer, with Sean Dyche's side long time admirers of the central defender.
They had a £7.5million bid for the player rejected in January and look set to return with an improved offer of around £9million in the coming weeks. However, it remains to be seen if this will be enough to convince Stoke to sell.
Dyche likely sees Collins as a replacement for James Tarkowski, with the Englishman open about his desires to leave Turf Moor.
He would also have fellow Irishmen Kevin Long and Jimmy Dunne for competition at the back, although that pair have only been used as backups at Burnley in recent times.
A move to the Premier League would certainly seem like the next logical step in Nathan Collins' career. The likes of Dara O'Shea, John Egan, and Enda Stevens have all become Ireland regulars after stepping up to the top flight over the last couple of seasons, something he will no doubt be looking to emulate.
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