Wolves in ‘advanced talks’ to sign relegated centre-back for £20.5m

According to reports, Wolves are in ‘advanced talks’ to sign Burnley and Republic of Ireland defender Nathan Collins for a fee of around £20.5m.

The centre-back progressed through the ranks at Championship outfit Stoke City. He featured 27 times for them during the 2020/21 season.

Burnley paid around £12m to sign Collins ahead of the 2021/22 campaign. They suffered relegated down to the Championship on the final day of the season.

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The 21-year-old was one of their shining lights last term and he is now a regular for the Republic of Ireland.

Leeds United and Newcastle United were linked with Collins towards the end of May.

The Telegraph’s John Percy is now reporting that Wolves are in ‘advanced talks’ to sign the international defender for £20.5m.

He notes that ‘negotiations are progressing well’ and that a full agreement is ‘close’.

Collins will likely be Wolves’ first summer signing if Collins’ move to Molineux is completed.

Meanwhile, Everton have reportedly submitted an ‘opening bid of over £20m’ for Wolves midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and this has been rejected.

Gibbs-White progressed through the ranks at Wolves. He has been unable to establish himself as a regular in the Premier League in recent seasons.

The England U21 international joined Championship side Sheffield United on a season-long loan deal ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

The 22-year-old performed brilliantly last term as he won the club’s Player of the Year award. He grabbed twelve goals and ten assists in the Championship.

Newly-promoted Nottm Forest have been linked with him of late. The Telegraph have now revealed that he is a ‘priority signing’ for Everton.

The Toffees have now had an ‘opening bid’ for Gibbs-White rejected by Wolves. The fee offered is understood to be ‘over £20m’.

The centre-midfielder is out of contract in 2024 though Wolves have offered him a new deal. The report notes that Bruno Lage’s side are ‘relaxed about the situation’.

Should Gibbs-White make it clear that he wants to go, ‘Wolves are expected to seek a deal closer to £30m including add-ons’.