Nathan Collins faces key transfer decision ahead of key summer for Burnley and Vincent Kompany

If Nathan Collins could handpick a manager to walk through the door at Turf Moor then Vincent Kompany may well have been towards the top of the list.

The Clarets centre back is coming off a strong debut campaign at Burnley in which he made 19 appearances and impressed in the main when standing in for either James Tarkowski or Ben Mee. Those experienced heads, who offered Collins plenty on and off the pitch, have now departed.

There is concern that the Irishman could follow him with half the Premier League seemingly keen on the 21-year-old. Wolves and Leicester City have become the latest to be linked, adding to a list that has already seen Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Leeds United linked.

The centre back, who has been away on international duty this month, has been granted extra time off by the Clarets ahead of a return to pre-season. He is expected to chat to his new boss Kompany this week and Burnley fans will be hoping the chance to learn off one of the best centre backs in Premier League history can act as a carrot for the 21-year-old to stay at the club.

There is no doubt he is Premier League quality, but he has just half a season in the top flight to his name, and is still learning and developing. His performances last season show he is destined for a career at the top of the game but Burnley's shortfall at centre half mean the Clarets can ill-afford to lose another star in that position.

Collins himself is grounded, spoke of his desire to be patient behind Tarkowski and Mee, but made no secret of his determination to make his name in the Premier League. He's made a good start in that ambition but at the moment a start is all it is.

Another season of first team football, under the guidance and tutelage of