Sky Sports journalist shares Sunderland stance after Dan Neil ‘rejected’ new contract
One of Sunderland’s most important players has now turned down a contract with the club.
Sunderland have endured a summer of turmoil so far, as they still wait to appoint a permanent manager four months on.
Fans have become frustrated that a head coach is yet to be named, while Kyril Louis-Dreyfus stated that an appointment would be made ‘imminently’ five days ago.
The uncertainty around the club has left Chris Rigg unsure about whether to commit his future, with reports claiming he would wait to see who the new manager was before beginning fresh talks.
It turns out the 16-year-old isn’t the only one unsure about the direction the club is heading in either.
Dan Neil rejects new Sunderland deal
According to Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie, Dan Neil has now rejected Sunderland’s first contract offer.
He wrote on X: “Dan Neil has rejected Sunderland’s first new contract offer, but understand talks between club & player are ongoing. #SAFC relaxed about the situation as the midfielder still has two years left on his current deal. But without doubt, one of the club’s prize assets.”
Is this the end for the boyhood Sunderland fan on Wearside?
Dan Neil not signing a new contract isn’t the end of the world, as he still has two years remaining on his contract. However, that isn’t really the point.
One of our best players who has spent most of his life on Wearside is now considering whether his future should lie elsewhere, all because of the drastic decline this board has forced upon the club.
Neil will likely look to wait to see who the Black Cats appoint too, while his future could well be decided by next summer depending on how next season goes.
But Sunderland could also be in big trouble if a Premier League club catch wind of his situation and choose to launch a bid for him in the coming months, at which point they may struggle to keep hold of him.
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Kristjaan Speakman have put this club in an incredibly sticky position and could be forcing the hand of a number of its key players.
It really feels that no matter who they appoint now, the fans are going to want either one or both of them gone as soon as possible.
Speakman has come under huge criticism over the last year and recent reports have claimed many managers have lost interest in the job as they want to avoid working with him.
KLD needs to find his voice and move Speakman on before he causes anymore trouble, as it has so far felt like he is leading the owner and not exactly giving him the best advice.
