Sunderland fan favourite and captain Dan Neil is a man in demand. It’s reported that both Everton and West Ham are keen to sign the 23-year-old in this January transfer window, but it would require a huge offer to make the move happen.
Dan Neil seems to have been around for an age. He made his league debut for the Black Cats back in 2018 and has racked up 177 total appearances for the club since. Following Sunderland’s return to the Championship in 2022, Neil has really come into his element.
He’s taken his game to the next level and in the last few weeks in particular, he’s been a shining light for Regis Le Bris’ side.
There was a lot of criticism aimed towards Neil earlier in the campaign. But he’s well and truly silenced those critics with some impressive performances in the last several weeks.
In 2024/25, Neil has made 27 Championship appearances for the Black Cats who currently sit in 4th place of the table, with one goal and three assists to his name.
Neil’s fine form though has led to interest. It’s reported that Everton and West Ham are eyeing Neil ahead of the February 3rd transfer deadline. It’s also been reported that Sunderland won’t sell Neil in this January transfer window.
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Sunderland would need ‘ridiculous offer’ to sell Dan Neil amid Everton and West Ham links
Speaking to Football League World, pundit Carlton Palmer has now weighed in on the situation, suggesting that it’d take a ‘ridiculous offer’ for the Sunderland owners to sell Neil in this winter window.
Palmer said: “Certainly they won’t want to see any of their players leave in the January transfer window, and I think it would prove difficult to prize Neil away from there.
“The 23-year-old is a South Shields boy, has come through the Sunderland youth system, and he would like to get his boyhood club promoted to the Premier League, so I can’t see Sunderland letting anybody go unless there’s a ridiculous offer.
“It’s also getting late in the day to replace a player, and to replace a player like Dan Neil who has the experience in the Championship and who knows all the supporters, knows the players.
“He’s holding things together at the football club and he’s been outstanding. I just can’t see this deal happening.”
What Dan Neil said about his Sunderland form earlier in the season
As Sunderland fans were critiquing Neil’s performances earlier in the season, he was too. Later on, Neil admitted he wasn’t in good form at Sunderland with some very honest comments.
He said: “I know deep down that I didn’t start the season very well, as a footballer you know when you’re not playing at your best. For me it’s just about sticking to the processes and eventually you’ll rise to your best level, and I think that’s starting to happen.”
But it’s clear now that Neil is back to his best and links to two Premier League clubs is a credit to how well he’s been performing of late.
But like Palmer says, it would need a serious, serious offer for the Black Cats to sell their captain during a promotion push. And Neil being a boyhood Sunderland fan surely won’t want to leave right now.