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Brentford are ready to step up their summer recruitment drive after another successful Premier League campaign and the Bees have identified a talented Wolves centre-half as a potential signing.
Manager Thomas Frank is believed to be a keen admirer of Wanderers’ Nathan Collins and a package to bring the 22-year-old to London from the Midlands is reportedly being weighed up by the Danish coach and his club.
Republic of Ireland international Collins could be available for as little as £20m according to the latest reports, just a year after he swapped Stoke for Wolves for approximately the same figure in 2022.
Nathan Collins set for summer transfer?
Nathan Collins was considered a hot property last summer when Wolves beat off a number of other suitors, including Tottenham Hotspur, for the Irishman’s signature.
However, after a bright start at Molineux, Collins seemed to fall out of favour soon after the appointment of Spanish taskmaster, Julen Lopetegui, in November.
Collins went on to make just 19 Premier League starts overall for Wanderers last term and though he is still believed to be a highly-rated asset at the club, his lack of involvement suggests Wolves might be open to cashing in on the centre-half if an offer of worth is presented.
The defender was chosen to start in just seven of Wolves’ 21 Premier League fixtures after January 1st and a more regular role at another club next season could appeal to the youngster.
Brentford set for busy summer
Brentford boss Thomas Frank is thought to be determined to add to his squad this summer and the Bees have already announced the capture of stopper Mark Flekken who jetted in to join from Freiburg in a deal rumoured to be valued at around £12m.
Flekken’s arrival has paved the way for David Raya’s departure and the Spanish goalkeeper looks set to sign for Tottenham in a transfer that could earn Brentford up to £40m.
Elsewhere, Brentford have also made Kevin Schade’s loan move from Freiburg permanent, forking out around £20m to nab the exciting 21-year-old forward.
However, Frank is also keen to strengthen his defence with Nathan Collins said to be on the Danish manager’s radar and though Wolves are hoping to make a profit on the Irish international just 12 months after signing him, a compromise on a fee could be reached.
Brentford finished with the Premier League’s sixth-best defensive record last season, shipping an admirable 46 times in 38 games overall, however, some of their underlying stats weren’t quite as impressive.
Indeed, only three clubs in the division, Bournemouth, Everton and Leicester, conceded more shots per game than Brentford (14.7), while the Cherries were the league’s only outfit to concede more shots on target per 90 than the Bees in 2022/23.
With those figures digested, it’s easy to see why Thomas Frank is set on acquiring defensive recruits this summer with the Danish coach aiming to stem the flow of chances conceded by his team.
At 22, Collins has plenty of scope for improvement and his composure in possession is also likely to have caught Frank’s eye, with the 49-year-old a fan of playing the ball out from the back.
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