GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MAY 18: Matt O' Riley (l) of Celtic celebrates the winning Celtic goal with team mate Anthony Ralston during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC v St Mirren at Celtic Park Stadium on May 18, 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Sunderland may be in line for player boost as Black Cats wait on £30m Celtic decision
Sunderland may have been handed a huge potential boost where the future of Dan Neil is concerned.
Sunderland have a growing number of players attracting summer transfer interest, with Dan Neil one of them.
The Sunderland academy man has just enjoyed another impressive campaign in the Championship after netting four and assisting five more in 42 league appearances.
He’s under contract until the summer of 2026, but the Black Cats may well cash in on Neil this summer, possibly along with names like Anthony Patterson and Jack Clarke.
Recently-promoted Southampton are reportedly keen on Clarke and Neil after beating Leeds United in the Championship play-off final.
The Saints have fancied Clarke for some time now, whilst Russell Martin is said to be a ‘big admirer’ of Neil at Sunderland.
But the Black Cats may well have been handed a boost over the future of Neil at the Stadium of Light.
Southampton targeting Matt O’Riley at Celtic
An emerging report from GIVEMESPORT has claimed that Southampton have now turned their interest towards Matt O’Riley at Celtic.
The central midfielder played under Saints boss Martin at MK Dons previously and has since gone on to flourish for Celtic following his transfer during the 2021/22 season.
In 2023/24, O’Riley scored 18 and assisted 13 more in 37 Scottish Premiership outings as Celtic won the league title.
GIVEMESPORT claim that Southampton are ‘ready to make a summer move’ for O’Riley, who Celtic reportedly value at £30million.
And that, in turn, may mean that Southampton’s interest in Neil is fleeting, or failing that; that Southampton may unable to afford both O’Riley and Neil during the upcoming summer transfer window.
Can Sunderland keep hold of Dan Neil this summer
There’s no doubting Neil’s quality and importance in this Sunderland side, and also the fact that he’s becoming a better player with each passing campaign.
Interest in the 22-year-old is somewhat inevitable but for Sunderland, selling or keeping Neil this summer feels like a very tough decision.
For whoever the next Sunderland manager is, keeping Neil will be key; he’s vital to the side and now one of the more experienced squad members too.
But from the viewpoint of owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, Neil could pocket the club a huge transfer fee this summer, and with his contract out in a couple of years, now might be the best time to cash in.
That is unless the Black Cats can secure fresh terms for Neil. But given the current state of affairs at Sunderland, a new deal for Neil feels quite unlikely.
Either way, Southampton setting their sights on another central midfielder in O’Riley, and one that Martin already knows well, can only be good news for Sunderland with regards to Neil.
