Players are competing during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sunderland and Plymouth Argyle at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, United Kingdom, on February 10, 2024. (Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Sunderland ace tipped to stay at Sunderland this summer despite Liverpool interest
Sunderland have a growing number of players who could attract summer transfer interest. But one has been tipped to stay.
Sunderland are firmly establishing themselves in the Championship now, with the club looking to fast-track their return to the Premier League
This summer will mark seven years since the Black Cats were last in the top flight. And whether or not the club goes on to earn promotion under Michael Beale this season, the summer ahead looks set to be a busy one.
Jack Clarke looks set to become the centre of transfer speculation once again. Also, names like Dan Ballard, Anthony Patterson, Chris Rigg, and Dan Neil could come into the conversation as well, with all having had suitors in the past 12 months.
But journalist Phil Smith thinks Neil would be inclined to stay.
Phil Smith tips Dan Neil to stay at Sunderland
Neil is only 22 years old, but already he’s amassed 137 total appearances for the Black Cats, scoring 10 goals and assisting 16.
This season, Neil has featured in all but one of his side’s 31 Championship games, scoring four and assisting four in what’s been another standout season for the South Shields-born midfielder.
He’s had links to the likes of Aston Villa and Liverpool in the past 12 months and will no doubt be in the minds of many clubs come the summer
But Sunderland Echo man Smith has tipped him to stay, saying on the recent episode of The Roar Podcast:
“I do genuinely think Dan Neil is very, very driven to get Sunderland back to the Premier League. I think it would actually be difficult for him to leave.”
Good news on Neil, and maybe Anthony Patterson too
Like Neil, Anthony Patterson has risen through the youth ranks at Sunderland, going on to become a key player and a very valuable asset too.
And like Smith suggests with Neil, Patterson could also be inclined to stay at Sunderland and continue pushing for the Premier League, with Patterson having also been with the club a long time, witnessing all the heartache over the past few years.
The lure of the Premier League is also big, and it could be too enticing for both the player and the club to turn down.
But one certainty this summer seems like Clarke leaving. He looks set to net the Black Cats a huge transfer fee and that could persuade the club to keep hold of Neil and Patterson, and any others should big offers come in.
This is definitely a nice problem for the Sunderland owners to have though. They now just need to manage the selling and reinvesting side of things, and keep the club on an upwards trajectory.
