United now eyeing move for 24-yo PL warrior, Jason Wilcox believes he’s exactly what Red Devils need – report

Manchester United could be tempted to consider defensive reinforcements this summer owing to a spate of injuries at the back in recent weeks. The Red Devils are already without Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez, both of whom are sidelined with fitness issues. De Ligt was rock-solid at the back at the start of the season and even won United’s player of the month award in November last year. However, the Dutch defender has been sidelined since the start of December and his involvement for the rest of the season now remains in doubt. Martinez, meanwhile, returned to action at the end of last year after recovering from an ACL injury, and was indispensable for the Premier League giants, especially under caretaker manager Michael Carrick. However, the Argentine has missed the last four games due to a calf injury and remains unavailable for Friday’s Bournemouth game. With Harry Maguire’s contract due to expire at the end of this season, and the Englishman already on the wrong side of 30, a new defender could be on INEOS’ agenda this summer. It now appears that they have identified a Premier League star for the job. United want Nathan Collins According to TEAMtalk, United have set their sights on Brentford defender Nathan Collins. The report states: “TEAMtalk can reveal Brentford’s Nathan Collins is emerging as a solid and genuine transfer target for Manchester United, with the club identifying two areas of their defence they intend to strengthen ahead of the summer transfer window.” “Sources have informed TEAMtalk that a number of Premier League clubs now regard the Republic of Ireland international as one of the standout central defenders currently operating in England.” Nathan Collins Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League2724125-2,252′ EFL Cup411—189′ FA Cup22-1–210′ Total3327235-2,651′ Source: Transfermarkt. The report adds that Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are all keeping a close eye on the 24 year old. However, the Red Devils are likely to step up their pursuit of the player, who has already convinced director of football Jason Wilcox. “Collins’ consistency, leadership and physical presence massively appeal to the club’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, who we understand now believes the 36-times capped Republic of Ireland defender has what it takes to make it to the very top.” United have to pay significant fee for Collins United signed Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford last summer, but could mount a raid on the Gtech Community Stadium once again this year. The report states that the Red Devils will have to pay at least £55 million for the Republic of Ireland international. “United’s interest is understood to be at an early stage, but internal discussions have highlighted Collins as a player capable of strengthening their defensive unit both immediately and long-term. His Premier League experience and durability are viewed as key assets.” “Brentford, for their part, are under no pressure to sell and would be expected to demand a significant fee – likely at a minimum of £55m and double their initial investment – should formal approaches materialise.” Final Thoughts Collins was also linked with a move to Old Trafford last summer although the deal failed to materialise. The Republic of Ireland international’s Premier League experience could even make him a solid long-term replacement for Maguire. Feature image Octavio Passos via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.