Sunderland have been told they can demand in excess of £10 million for Dan Neil this month.
Dan Neil has enjoyed a sensational first half of the campaign, becoming one of the first names on the team-sheet as he has bagged seven goal contributions in the Championship so far.
The midfielder has earned plenty of praise this term, with Tony Mowbray previously predicting that he would eventually play in the Premier League.
That time could potentially come sooner rather than later though, with Sunderland Nation recently reporting that a number of Premier League and foreign clubs are targeting Neil in the January transfer window.
The report states that around a dozen clubs are interested in signing Neil, with Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal just some of the outfits keen to snap him up.
The 22-year-old only extended his contract with Sunderland in March 2023 after rejecting interest elsewhere, but it is thought that the Black Cats could face a tougher battle to keep hold of him this time round.
Sunderland will be eager to keep hold of their academy product, though every player has their price and Carlton Palmer has urged the Wearsiders to demand over £10 million for him.
Speaking to Football League World, the former England international said: “Sunderland are in an incredibly strong position with the player. Neil’s contract does not expire until the summer of 2026.
“He’s having another fantastic season. The midfield player is reportedly happy to stay at Sunderland and wishes to help them return to the Premier League.
“At 22, he’s technically gifted, he’s an English player as well; that satisfies the criteria of supplying home-grown talent for the big clubs.
“I think Dan could make the step up to the Premier League, but we know Sunderland’s policy of developing young players and buying them at relatively low prices and then selling them on for big profit.
“I think it would take a huge offer for Sunderland to let Neil go in the January transfer window. I think you would be looking at in excess of £10 million.”
Sunderland would be stupid to entertain offers for Dan Neil
Dan Neil has blocked the fifth-most passes in the Championship this season (27), while he has the second-most shots in the Sunderland squad (37), third-most interceptions (23) and third-most successful dribbles (25).
The midfielder is quite comfortably one of Sunderland’s best players, and to think he would want to leave in January is crazy.
The England U20 international has been with the Black Cats since 2010 and there is no way he would be willing to leave when he could potentially help us win promotion back to the Premier League.
A fee such as £10 million is also far from his valuation too. Neil could play for England one day and his price tag could be compared to the likes of Alex Scott (£25m), Flynn Downes (12m) and Sam Clucas (£16.5m).