Aston Villa enter race to sign Burnley defender Nathan Collins – report
Aston Villa are among three Premier League teams who are keen to keep Burnley defender Nathan Collins in the Premier League, according to Alex Crook.
The 21-year-old earned himself an extended run in the Clarets side as they ultimately fell just short of staying up on the final day of the 2021-22 Premier League season.
He scored a couple of crucial goals too that helped keep Burnley in the hunt until the final whistle and his impressive displays have attracted Villa along with Leeds United and Wolves, as Crook reports in the talkSPORT Transfer Notebook.
Burnley’s new manager Vincent Kompany wants to build his defence around the Irishman, who also scored for his country against Ukraine during the international window, having lost Ben Mee and James Tarkowski on free transfers.
But they now face a battle to keep him at Turf Moor with such strong Premier League interest now they are down in the Championship.
Top talent
To replace either Tarkowski or Mee at Burnley is a very tough job to have but Collins was able to do it with ease and that is almost more impressive than any of his highlights.
Sure the goals are nice and every great team needs their defenders chipping in with the odd goal here and there when the attackers are having an off day but it’s his sturdy defence that catches the eye.
You can often tell if you are chasing a genuinely good player or someone who isn’t living up to the hype by the number of teams in the race and with both Leeds and Wolves also clearly impressed by what they’ve seen in him, it appears we’re chasing the right rabbit.
Steven Gerrard might have to work his typical magic to entice him to the Midlands though with not much to choose between the trio of clubs.
We could have the advantage of the location at least as Collins began his career up the road at Stoke City and a return to the area could be exactly what he needs right now.
In other Aston Villa news, there is an expectation around Villa Park that this young striker will be on the pre-season tour to Australia despite transfer rumours surrounding him.