Leeds United could offer Sunderland escape route for midfield sensation Dan Neil
Leeds United could make an offer to sign Dan Neil from Sunderland in the summer if they fail to win promotion from League One, according to Football League World.
The football news website reports that if the Black Cats go up this season, there’s a chance the 20-year-old midfield sensation could stay at the Stadium of Light for at least another year.
However, it is understood that the South Shields-born England Under-20 international has been scouted by teams in the Premier League and Leeds are among them.
Aston Villa, Brighton, Wolves and Middlesbrough are keen on Neil, as well as Yorkshire giants Leeds United.
Exciting potential
Leeds have a big summer transfer window coming up regardless of whether they stay in the Premier League or not.
While we can talk for days about the futures of certain Leeds players, one area that has been a subject of discussion for what seems like an age now is the fact that the club simply must add to their midfield options.
Kalvin Phillips is always prone to a setback, Stuart Dallas is often needed at full-back and Mateusz Klich is clearly no longer the player he once was for the Whites.
Neil is a 20-year-old ace who’s made a real name for himself in a breakthrough season at Sunderland this term.
He’s scored four goals and supplied eight assists in 42 appearances in all competitions for the Wearside club, playing mainly as a central or holding midfielder.
Ex-Sunderland manager Lee Johnson, as quoted by the Sunderland Echo on 7 January, dubbed Neil as a “joy to watch”. Wearside royalty Kevin Phillips told Football Insider on 10 October that “he is an exciting young talent” and that he loves watching him play.
All the noises regarding Neil are good – but can he come to Leeds and walk into a starting line-up in the Premier League?
Honestly, we doubt it. But he’d be a great talent to nurture, give game-time whenever he’s needed and some starts in cup competitions.
In a year or twos’ time, Neil could be a top central midfielder for the bulk of clubs in the Premier League.
In other Leeds United news, Graham Smyth admits it’s “very possible” this player will quit Elland Road in the summer.