Nathan Collins on verge of breaking Irish transfer record with Brentford move

The Kildare man is set to break the Irish transfer record twice in the space of 12 months.

Republic of Ireland centre-half Nathan Collins is set to depart Wolves after just one season at Molineux. Fellow Premier League side Brentford are the destination, with a reported fee of €27 million having been agreed with the London side. The move will see Collins become the Bees most expensive player of all time, and also break his own Irish transfer record which he set last summer in his €24 million switch from Burnley to Wolves. The 22-year-old enjoyed a strong start to life at Wolves, thriving in former manager Bruno Lage's back-three system. However, following the Portuguese boss' dismissal, Collins saw his playing time severely limited under former Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui. [caption id="attachment_289748" align="alignnone" width="640"] Collins has been the standout performer in a lacklustre Irish side over recent international breaks. (Credit: Getty Images)[/caption]

Nathan Collins on verge of breaking Irish transfer record:

Playing just two full 90-minute Premier League games since February, the Kildare native fell behind experienced defender Craig Dawson as Lopetegui reverted to a more traditional back-four defensive structure. Despite this lack of club action though, Collins has become a mainstay in the Ireland backline under Stephen Kenny, and been a standout performer amidst Ireland's poor run of form. It was likely these recent performances in the green of Ireland which caught the eye of Brentford boss Thomas Frank, who is seeking to bolster his squad ahead of a push for European football this season. Brentford enjoyed their best ever top-flight finish last season, finishing in ninth place on 59 points, and just two off the European spots in seventh. According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Collins is set to undergo his medical in London today. Upon completing the move, the Irish international will be competing against the likes of club captain Ben Mee and experienced centre-half Ethan Pinnock for a starting berth. Related Articles:

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