Sunderland may have a battle on their hands to keep all their in demand stars beyond the January transfer window. There’s lingering interest in some of their players, and emerging interest too.
Sunderland under Kristjaan Speakman have built a very young and exciting squad. It’s also one with a lot of value, with several of the Black Cats’ star players wanted by top flight clubs and commanding hefty transfer fees.
Owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus could cash in now and make a huge profit. But the Frenchman is clearly keen on a promotion push in 2024/25, as shown by the club’s loan signing of Enzo Le Fee.
Still, it won’t stop Premier League clubs from showing an interest in these final two weeks of the January transfer window, with those behind the scenes at the Stadium of Light surely bracing for some kind of interest.
Regis Le Bris will of course be keen to keep his star players but right now, one seems to be attracting more interest than most, and it’ not Jobe Bellingham.
West Ham join the race to sign Sunderland star Dan Neil
On Wednesday, transfer interest in Sunderland skipper Dan Neil was revealed. It was reported that Everton are interested in Neil with former Sunderland boss David Moyes back at Goodison Park, and looking to bolster his side before the February 3rd deadline.
Now though, talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook has revealed that Moyes’ former club West Ham are also interested in Neil. The 23-year-old central midfielder has shone for the Black Cats in recent weeks having now featured 27 times in the Championship in 2024/25, with one goal and three assists.
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Dan Neil’s Sunderland contract and the big worry for Kristjaan Speakman
Sunderland seem to have made it clear so far, with the handling of Bellingham’s transfer interest for instance, that it’ll cost the buying club a lot to purchase any players from Sunderland in this January transfer window.
But Neil could be an exception. He sees his Sunderland contract expire in the summer of 2026 which is unusual for the Black Cats, who like to have all their top players on longer-term deals.
Expect the club to have worked on a new contract for the Englishman. Also expect the club to be potentially open to offers for Neil, at the right price of course, as they’d likely have to cash in this summer if they fail to earn promotion.
It’s a real dilemma for the Black Cats. Neil though will surely want to help oversee promotion.