Stoke City boss Michael O'Neill says it will take a 'big number' offer for Burnley or Leeds Utd to sign Nathan Collins

Stoke City boss Martin O’Neill says nothing less than a ‘big number’ offer will be enough to prise Nathan Collins away from the club before the end of the English transfer window on Monday.

The Republic of Ireland under-21 defender has been linked with Premier League sides Burnley and Leeds United and Burnley in recent weeks after establishing himself in the Stoke side.

Manchester United are also known to be admirers of the Leixlip man, whose dad Dave and uncle Eamonn played professionally in England, coach Darren Fletcher having played with him at Stoke.

Sean Dyche’s side reportedly had a £7.5 million offer knocked back but it will take something in the eight-figure bracket to tempt the Staffordshire side to sell.

Collins signed a long-term contract in 2019 that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2024 and the Potters are under no pressure to sell.

“There’s been a lot of speculation about Nathan in recent weeks. Some of that will be genuine, some of that will be created. The most important thing is that Nathan retains his focus,” O’Neill told the Stoke Sentinel.

“I don’t envisage Nathan leaving Stoke in the near future. It would take a big number for us to do that. He’s a developing player.

“At this point in his career he’s a starting player in our team and he wants to continue to build up a number of games that he’s playing.

“He doesn’t want, possibly, to leave and be part of someone’s squad as opposed to where he is at this minute in time.

“We have him on a long-term contract and the club has no desire to sell him. It would take a number much greater than the number I’ve seen bandied about.

“I have no doubt that in the not too distant future that Nathan has the capability to play in the Premier League and hopefully that will be for Stoke City and not someone else.”