‘£20m if not more’: Club legend tips Arsenal-linked ‘excellent’ defender to shoot up in value

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Reported Arsenal target Nathan Collins could be worth “£20million if not more” by next year, according to Lou Macari.

However, the Stoke legend doesn’t think that the club should part company with the 19-year-old even for that higher price.

The Sun (24 January, p. 59) reported that Arsenal are one of several Premier League teams eyeing the highly-rated young centre-back.

Burnley, Crystal Palace and Manchester United have also been linked with the Potters academy graduate.

According to the Burnley Express, the Clarets made an opening bid of £4.5 million for Collins this week, but Stoke rejected it.

The outlet suggested a £10million price tag, while TEAMtalk claimed £15million was the price, and the Stoke Sentinel have gone higher – namely, “silly money”.

Even the latter wouldn’t be enough for Macari, who thinks the best option would be to keep him at the club and ensure he’s part of the team for years to come.

“This week we’ve seen young defender Nathan Collins mooted as a target for the likes of Arsenal and Burnley,” he wrote in the Stoke Sentinel.

“There’s talk about a £10m or £12m move, but I just don’t see how those sort of figures would benefit Stoke City.

“There is money at Stoke, but the Collins situation goes far beyond what cash another team would be prepared to stump up.

“Ok, if Collins continues to develop and has another good season, then his asking price would be heading towards £20m if not more. But that wouldn’t really benefit Michael O’Neill.

“As it stands, Michael knows Nathan, not just in terms of his playing ability, but what he is like as a person and in the dressing room.

“If Stoke did opt to sell him, a replacement would need to be found – and there’s no guarantees when it comes to that.

“Yes, you can see whether they are any good out on the pitch, but that doesn’t tell you about them as a bloke.

“And looking at how Michael is moulding the squad, someone like Collins is a player who he wants to be part of the first team for many years to come.”

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Collins is a talented youngster who Michael O’Neill has deemed “excellent”, and with 44 competitive appearances for Stoke – 24 this season – it just shows how good he is, to be so integral to the side at such a young age.

Macari is right to suggest that his value could go right up were he to stay at the club and continue improving, but his hopes of the club keeping hold of him will seriously be tested, particularly if a team like Arsenal makes a move.