Manchester United are close to signing Stoke City defender Nathan Collins, according to the Daily Mail.

The 18-year-old has reportedly been recommended by former midfielder Darren Fletcher, who also played for the Potters.

Collins has only made three senior appearances for Stoke but the teenager is a promising young player who has excelled at youth level.

The Irish Under 17 international has already captained Stoke’s Under 23 side in Premier League 2 and also featured for the Under 21s in the EFL Trophy earlier this campaign.

He was given his senior debut by Potters boss Nathan Jones in the 3-1 defeat to Swansea City back in early April and made his first start in a 1-0 loss to Middlesbrough later that month.

Collins is ostensibly a centre-back and remains a raw talent but United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen on signing younger players and seems to have taken Fletcher’s advice in pursuing the Irishman.