Wolves reject second Brentford bid for Republic of Ireland defender Nathan Collins
WOLVES have rejected a second Brentford bid for Nathan Collins with the London club weighing up whether to make a third.
SunSport has learned that the London club have tabled two offers for the 22-year-old.
The first, for £20.5million (€23.85m), matched what Wolves paid Burnley for him a year ago, in what was a record fee for an Ireland player.
The second would have seen that record rise to £22m (€25.6m) but it too was rejected by the Molineux outfit despite the club being under pressure to sell to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations.
They have already sold Ruben Neves to Saudi Arabian outfit Al Hilal for a reported £47m.
Collins was a regular for Wolves in the first half of last season but Julen Lopetegui – appointed in November – dropped him in January and he did not regain his place in the starting XI until the final two games.
Although highly-rated, the club have strong competition at centre-back and are prepared to sell but the Bees are reluctant to go much higher with their bid.
Nottingham Forest and West Ham United are also keen on Collins who was named Ireland Player of the Year on Tuesday, although neither club has made a concrete offer as of yet
One Ireland defender who looks certain to move is Dara O’Shea. He is set to undergo a medical after Burnley agreed a fee with West Brom.
It will mark a return to the Premier League for the 24-year-old who previously made 28 top-flight appearances for the Baggies.
He will join international colleagues Josh Cullen and Michael Obafemi at Turf Moor but his arrival will hasten the departure of Luke McNally for another loan move.
The Clarets signed the former St Pat’s starlet last summer but, with first-team opportunities limited, he spent the second half of the season with Coventry City, helping them reach the Championship play-off final.
Following Burnley’s promotion, Vincent Kompany is keen for him to go on a season-long loan this time with Stoke City and Sheffield Wednesday among the interested clubs.