Leeds United are among a number of Premier League clubs who have been scouting Sunderland starlet Dan Neil this season.
What’s the story?
According to Football League World, Jesse Marsch’s side – along with the likes of Aston Villa, Wolves and Brighton – have been watching the young midfielder closely this season as they bid to lure him away from League One in the summer.
However, the report added that promotion with Sunderland this year could see him remain at the Stadium of Light for another season, but that may prove to be the only way that the Wearside club keep hold of him.
Exciting prospect for Leeds
Labelled a “diamond” by Phil Parkinson in the past, the 20-year-old has enjoyed a real breakthrough campaign on Wearside this season, playing a whopping 42 games in all competitions.
His performances in the league have been most impressive, notching three goals and providing seven assists as he tries to drag Sunderland into the play-offs come the end of the season.
His team-mate Luke O’Nien has previously raved about the youngster, saying: “Dan has been exceptional right throughout pre-season. Every day in training, he’s like a dancer with those magic feet. He’s creating and scoring goals in training all the time.”
Meanwhile, former Sunderland boss Lee Johnson added to his list of admirers by saying: “He’s technically a very good player, you can see the way he manipulates the ball, and I think he has added another dimension to his game in being able to drop and drive, as we call it, and receive the ball and commit players.
“He’s got that lovely dribbling technique, a little bit like a young Paul Gascoigne almost in the way he sort of hops and drags it at the same time which, as a defender, makes it very difficult to commit because as soon as you do, he’s got the ability to skip by you. I do expect to see a couple of slalom-type goals from him this season.”
It’s clear that the 5 foot 10 Neil has the kind of natural ability which would make him a real fan favourite at Elland Road and a genuinely exciting prospect for the club to work with in the coming years.
It’s a prospective move which will have Marsch buzzing.
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