Dan Ballard sent warning if he leaves Sunderland for Sheffield United | OneFootball

Ballard has been linked with a move to the Blades depending on if they get promoted this season

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Football League World's Sunderland fan pundit believes that Dan Ballard's potential move to Sheffield United would be beneficial for both the club and the player if the Blades get promoted this season, but also thinks that the 25-year-old could move to a more stable Premier League side.

Northern Ireland international Ballard has been with the Black Cats for close to three years now, after he joined the Wearside club from Arsenal in June 2022 on a three-year deal for a reported £2 million fee.

He has since been an important figure in their backline over recent seasons when fit, especially during their promotion push this term, but has suffered recurring injury issues that have hampered his and the Black Cats' progress.

Sunderland fan pundit offers potential Dan Ballard, Sheffield United transfer verdict

Ballard is clearly a great talent with high potential, and Sunderland are reportedly set to demand around £12 to £15 million for his signature this summer, after Football League World exclusively revealed that Sheffield United are interested in signing him soon, providing that their promotion back to the top flight of English football is secured.

FLW's Black Cats fan pundit, Jack Austwicke, has given his verdict on the potential transfer, and while he would be pleased with the potential fee mooted for his services, he does believe that Ballard could join a higher-placed club than the promotion-chasing Blades.

“I think if Dan Ballard does move to Sheffield United, he is pretty much accepting that he will be in the Championship in the following season," Jack told FLW.

“I could be wrong, but I can’t see how they are going to break the monopoly that is the Premier League at the moment.

“It’s obviously a good move, but it’d be similar to Jack Clarke, in the way that he is just going to come back down next year.

“£12 to £15 million…I’d probably take that. I like Ballard, but I think that's about as much as you are going to get for him.

“Maybe he could move that bit higher to a more secure club, someone like Wolves maybe. As for now, I don’t think (Sheffield United) is a bad move for him, if he does it, and, to be fair, I’d probably take that price.”

Sunderland should be open to selling Ballard this summer for the right price

Ballard is no doubt a top Championship centre-back when he is on his game, but his constant unavailability through injury over the last couple of seasons has meant that the Black Cats have arguably learned to cope without him at times, and so a potential exit will not be feared by Regis Le Bris and supporters alike.

The 25-year-old suffered a broken foot in the early stages of his time at the Stadium of Light, then also missed the end of his maiden campaign with a hamstring issue. He made just 19 league appearances that year, but was able to stay fit for the majority of 2023/24 and so featured 43 times in the Championship.

He has been unable to put an extended run of starts together so far this term, with numerous niggling issues limiting him to just 19 appearances up to now. He looks unlikely to add to that figure between now and the end of the season, due to currently being sidelined with a hamstring problem.

It is fair to say that, due to his consistent injuries, Sunderland will likely have no qualms in letting him leave this summer for the aforementioned price tag that they are set to demand for his services. Numerous factors are set to play a part in his potential exit though, particularly their league status, as a departure seems much less likely if they are back in the top-flight for next term.