Sunderland £15m Dan Ballard bid on the cards in new exit update
Dan Ballard could be on the move from Sunderland this summer if they fail to make it back into the Premier League.
Sunderland have already sealed their place in the playoffs for May, though their recent form has seen several concerns emerge in regard to their credentials to go all the way.
Their latest 1-0 defeat to Swansea was a hard watch, and was also their eighth game in a row without Ballard after his injury in the clash with Hull City back in February.
Sunderland will be hoping the Northern Ireland international will be back in contention for the playoffs, though that could be his last involvement for the Black Cats.
Sunderland may sell Ballard this summer
Ballard has already been linked with a move to Sheffield United in the summer, and according to a report in the print edition of The Sun (13 April, pg57), the Blades “will pay” £15million to secure his services if they get promoted.
Wilder is said to be keen on adding an old-school centre-half to his squad next season, and Ballard, with his strength and defensive awareness, is believed to be high up on their list of targets.
| Season | Appearances |
| 24/25 | 19 |
| 23/24 | 44 |
| 22/23 | 22 |
Any deal is likely to hinge on whether Sunderland get promoted, especially given that it looks like it will be either them or Sheffield United.
Ballard has had a troubled season since the signing of Chris Mepham, but had been a mainstay in the Black Cats side since his move from Arsenal in 2022.
Sunderland need to get promoted this season
Not many would have expected Sunderland to be where they are, but through hard work and determination, they deserve their spot in the playoffs.
However, that success has attracted interest in several players, and a failure to get promoted would make it rather difficult for Sunderland to retain their best players in the Championship.
Regis Le Bris needs to get his side firing again ahead of the final four games to give them the best chance of achieving promotion.