View: Sunderland must stand firm on Dan Neil future amid Everton interest
Sunderland must do all they can to retain the services of Dan Neil this winter following reports linking him with a move to the Premier League.
The Black Cats are having a remarkable campaign under Regis Le Bris and Neil has played a crucial role in that, despite often going unnoticed.
His performances in midfield have been exemplary and he has quickly established himself as one of the best in the Championship this season.
Everton have been linked with a move for the 23-year-old [Telegraph], but if the Wearsiders were to sanction his exit, it would leave a huge dent in their promotion hopes and they simply can’t afford it.
Dan Neil will be paramount to Sunderland success
Very few people actually see the true impact Neil has in this Black Cats side but without him, Sunderland would be nowhere near in contention for automatic promotion.
Via FotMob, the academy graduate has completed a remarkable 1,023 passes this season, with an 84.4 per cent accuracy.
His ability to dictate play in the middle of the park has been crucial to the way the Wearsiders have been set up under Le Bris.
Despite playing a deep role, Neil has created 22 chances from midfield, while showcasing his ability to get his side up the pitch with 22 completed dribbles.
With 155 defensive recoveries and 122 duels won, he has done a magnificent job of protecting the Sunderland backline throughout the campaign.
While many will highlight the likes of Jobe Bellingham and Wilson Isidor as the keys to success, Neil is certainly in the same bracket and the hierarchy need to consider that.
Any exit decision made this month will undoubtedly have a negative effect on all aspects of the club.
In other Sunderland news, this player made a huge statement in the Black Cats’ win against Derby.
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