Burnley would be a “good move” for Nathan Collins, Stoke City legend Mike Pejic has told the Sentinel as the £12 million defender closes in on a switch to the Premier League outfit.
After failing to challenge for a play-off spot last season, 1 September can’t come soon enough for fans of the Championship’s eternal underachievers.
Academy graduate Collins is heading out the door after Burnley agreed a £12 million deal for the highly rated Republic of Ireland international, fighting off competition from the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal (The Athletic).
There’s a chance his centre-back partner – 6ft 7in Socceroo Harry Souttar – could be on his way too.
Burnley are keen to strike a double-deal for the Potters duo during the next couple of weeks.
And while Pejic admits he’d be “disappointed” to see Souttar and Collins leave the Bet365 Stadium in the same transfer window, he understands why the latter would be keen to join an established Premier League outfit that’s gearing up for a sixth successive season in the top flight.
“It will be a shame if and when Nathan Collins leaves Stoke City this summer but there’s no doubt it will be a good move for him too,” says Pejic, who played almost 300 league games for the Potters between 1968 and 1976.
“But money talks when you’re at this level, balancing Financial Fair Play and a lack of income, and every player with ambition wants to challenge themselves at the top. You won’t want to leave the club where you’ve made your breakthrough but, sometimes, you have to make hard decisions.
“Collins has shown his ability and potential and Burnley would be a good team for a defender to join, just as (former Stoke duo) Erik Pieters and Phil Bardsley have found.”
Have Burnley found the new Tarkowski in Nathan Collins?
A real aerial presence at 6ft 4in, Collins may be tasked with filling a James Tarkowski-shaped void at the heart of Sean Dyche’s Burnley back line.
The England international is refusing to sign a contract extension, while he’s attracting interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham and Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City.
“(Burnley) is a close community, a hardened, hard-working group, honest. That’s what Dyche is about – no nonsense, no excuses,” Pejic adds.
“He wants solid players and, if they’re losing James Tarkowski this summer or next, there’s a void there to be filled and he’ll like the look of Collins.
“He’s versatile and can slot in at right-back but his main position is obviously centre-half, where he can read the game quite well and he’s quite mobile.
“(Collins) has got very good potential to become a decent Premier League defender.”
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