Stoke City youngster Nathan Collins has admitted speculation linking him with a move to Manchester United this summer has taken him by surprise.
The 18-year-old Irish youth international is highly rated in his central defensive position but has seen precious little first team action.
He played three times for the Potters in the Championship last season but reports emerged over the summer touting him for a shock move to the Premier League with United.
“They were a bit unexpected to he honest," Collins told StokeonTrentLive about those transfer reports. "I woke up one morning and I didn’t have a clue.
“My brother ran into me and said, ‘Quick, look at your phone.’ I had a look and seen all this with Darren Fletcher.
“I couldn’t believe it when I first saw it and it kept going and going."
Collins insists his focus is on breaking into the Stoke side and impressing boss Nathan Jones in pre-season. Talk of a United transfer has cooled in recent weeks, with MEN Sport understanding that Collins is not a priority target for the Reds this summer. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are pursuing a big money move for Leicester City and England defender
Collins added: “I think some players it could (turn your head), but it didn’t really bother me or effect me. I knew I had to come back to Stoke and come back in good form fitness wise.
“It’s just rumours and I didn’t get my hopes up, I always knew I was coming back here.”
United have so far signed two 21-year-olds in Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka but appear to have made Maguire their transfer priority as weeks tick down towards the start of the season.
