Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Brentford defender Nathan Collins, as per The Daily Mail.
The Red Devils currently have Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martínez, Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire and Ayden Heaven as centre-back options. However, De Ligt has just returned to action after recovering from a lengthy back problem.
On the other hand, Martinez and Maguire have entered the final year of their respective contracts. The duo have even displayed inconsistent performances this season.
Heaven, meanwhile, has displayed below average performances thus far this term but is still very young and needs time to develop. Yoro has shown glimpses of his qualities but Michael Carrick has mainly used him in the right-back position.
Man Utd, on the other hand, have struggled with defensive frailties this campaign, conceding 30 goals across all competitions. As a result, Carrick’s job is under real threat at Old Trafford.
Now, The Daily Mail report that United are considering strengthening the defence in January and have identified Collins as a serious option. Apart from him, Fulham star Calvin Bassey and Everton’s Jarrod Branthwaite are also on their wishlist.
With the Collins’ existing deal set to run until 2029, Brentford are in a strong position to demand a big fee if they are forced to cash-in on him in January.
Collins to Man Utd
Collins is a 6ft 4in tall right-footed centre-back. He is strong, good in the air, comfortable playing out from the back and is efficient in defensive contributions.
Last season, he showed glimpses of his qualities, scoring twice and registering three assists in 41 appearances across all competitions. Moreover, he helped his side keep 10 clean sheets.
However, he has mainly featured as a rotational option this season. Still, the defender has managed to score twice in all tournaments. Having proven his worth in club football, he has established himself as Ireland national team’s captain.
The 25-year-old is a Premier League-proven player and is currently at the prime stage of his career. Therefore, he might be a shrewd acquisition for Man Utd should they purchase him for a reasonable fee.
However, it is going to be interesting to see whether the Old Trafford club eventually make a concrete approach to secure his services in January or next summer.
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