Sources: Sunderland open talks over Dan Neil deal as Premier League clubs swoop
Sunderland are in talks with Dan Neil over a new contract as they look to fend off interest in him, sources have told Football Insider.
The midfielder, 21, has impressed for Sunderland this season back in the Championship and his form has brought him onto the radar of a number of Premier League clubs.
The England U-20 international still has two-and-half-years to run on his current deal on Wearside.
But Sunderland want to reward him for his progress with a new and improved agreement to ward off suitors registering their interest in signing him.
Neil has been at Sunderland since 2010 and broke into the first team in 2018.
He has made 28 appearances for the Black Cats in all competitions this season with 26 of those being starts.
These outings have yielded two goals and three assists.
Neil has played mainly as a defensive midfielder but has also been used as a right midfielder on several occasions.
The midfielder was also a regular for Sunderland during the 2021-22 season, in which he made 46 appearances as the club finally returned to the second tier.
Neil was in from the start for 37 of those games as he scored four goals and registered eight assists.
Sunderland sit ninth in the Championship after winning 11 of their 28 league games this season.
They are next in action against Fulham in the FA Cup on Saturday (28 January).
In other news, Joe Gelhardt: Sunderland, Blackburn and Middlesbrough lead race to sign Leeds United star – sources