Sunderland boast several youngsters who are more than capable of making the Premier League step up.
Jack Clarke, of course, takes number one spot in that list.
Those who have watched the Englishman this season have run out of superlatives to describe him.
The 23-year-old has been breathtaking at times and has attracted an abundance of Premier League interest after scoring 12 often spectacular goals in 26 Championship appearances.
West Ham United are one of the clubs leading the race to sign him and they’ve developed a track record of hoovering up the second tier’s best talents.
They signed Jarrod Bowen from Hull City in 2020 and Said Benrahma from Brentford in January 2021.
While Michael Beale faces a fight on his hands to keep Clarke, he isn’t the only player who is more than ready to step up the top flight.
Dan Neil is Premier League ready
Last summer, Liverpool were linked with a move to sign Sunderland academy graduate Dan Neil.
At the time, a £10 million price tag was attached to his head but following his performances this season, that fee now should be closer to the £20 million mark.
Alongside the Reds, North London duo Tottenham and Arsenal have also regularly watched Neil in person, as well as Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon.
A ‘technically gifted’ midfielder – as described by journalist Michael Graham – Neil is a player who continues to grow into his potential in red and white.
He likes to maraud forward and provide telling quality in the final third, demonstrated by his tally of three goals and four assists, but he’s also capable of spraying passes from deep.
On Saturday, Sunderland were humbled 3-0 by their rivals Newcastle in the FA Cup, though the 22-year-old didn’t look out of place, despite coming up against superstars Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton.
According to Sofascore, the Black Cats midfield metronome completed 91% of his passes, won a mammoth ten of his 15 ground duels and accurately placed all four of his long balls.
Such a performance against Champions League opposition has only placed Neil further into the shop window.
Can Sunderland hold onto Dan Neil?
Out of Clarke and Neil, Sunderland are more likely to hold onto their academy graduate over the former Tottenham Hotspur man.
Although the Englishman is of interest to clubs because he satisfies their homegrown quota requirements, he is tied down at the Stadium of Light till 2026, which means his future is secure at the club.
On top of that, he is also a lifelong Sunderland supporter – unlike Clarke – and that makes it easier for Beale to hold onto him.
By playing for the club he grew up supporting, Neil is already living out the dream he had as a young boy and it’s unlikely he’ll throw that away unless he’s guaranteed a starting place in the top flight.