Manchester United are reportedly set to pursue the signature of Stoke City youngster Nathan Collins in the summer, on the recommendation of Darren Fletcher.
Darren Fletcher has been tipped to join Manchester United in a staff role, but the former midfielder seems to have already started helping the club lay down the bricks in the summer. According to The Sun, Fletcher has recommended Stoke City defender Nathan Collins to Manchester United.
The report clarifies that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is now considering a move for Nathan Collins, who according to Darren Fletcher, is ready to be a part of the first-team setup at Manchester United, despite featuring only 3 league games in the Championship for Stoke City in the 2018-19 campaign.
Nathan Collins joined Stoke City from Irish club Cherry Orchard FC in the summer of 2017 for an undisclosed fee and has shown immense potential this season while plying his trade for Stoke Under-23s in Premier League 2, which saw him make the senior grade.
Manchester United are set to make a signing on the recommendation of Darren Fletcher, according to the Sun.
Irish centre-back Nathan Collins, who has featured in the Championship for Stoke, is now expected to join United this summer.
( The Sun )#manutd#mufc#transfers pic.twitter.com/UlFP282YUL
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The 18-year-old has been handed the captain’s armband for the Under-23 side in the last few games, thus underlining the leadership aspect as well, something Manchester United seem to be missing dearly in defence. The Red Devils are set for a summer overhaul of their squad, with defence, in particular, likely to see a lot of movement.
Eric Bailly is tipped to leave the club in the summer, with Arsenal among the parties interested. Marcos Rojo is also rumoured to be on his way out. And while Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have recently signed new deals, their future is far from safe as Solskjaer begins his crackdown on a lack of quality and consistency in central defence.
United have also seen movement in the younger options at centre-back. Ro Shaun Williams has left the club while Axel Tuanzebe has performed admirably and is reportedly being eyed by Aston Villa to make his move permanent. Timothy Fosu-Mensah hasn’t impressed much and is widely seen to be better suited to a holding midfield role or out wide on the right side of the back four.
While there hasn’t been a value mentioned in the report, Collins is unlikely to cost Manchester United much, with the 18-year-old not even a regular as of yet at Stoke City. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is determined to change the current landscape of the Manchester United squad and has lined up moves for British youngsters like Swansea winger Daniel James instead of going after big name signings.