If Ipswich Town decide against Sunderland deal - Sheffield United and Leicester City should launch move | OneFootball

Dan Neil will be a free agent this summer when his Sunderland deal expires, and it's currently unclear whether he will stay at Ipswich Town.

Even though the summer transfer window is months away, recruitment teams at clubs up and down the country will already be identifying where they need to strengthen.

Of course, with so many moving parts, it’s hard to pin down exactly what will happen with each individual, but clubs need to be in a position where they are ready to act.

One player who is facing an uncertain summer is Dan Neil, with the midfielder having joined Ipswich Town on loan from Sunderland in January.

In the short-term, his only objective is to help the Tractor Boys reach the Premier League, and, if he does that whilst playing a key role, then there’s every chance his stay at Portman Road will be extended.

Dan Neil would be a statement signing for any Championship club

However, Ipswich will strengthen if they go up, and bringing in a few central midfielders is likely to be a priority, so there’s every chance Neil would fall down the pecking order, in which case he may not want to stick around.

If Kieran McKenna’s men don’t go up, there may be doubts over whether the Suffolk outfit want to purchase Neil outright.

So, it’s hard to say definitively what will happen in terms of Ipswich, but we do know that Neil has played his last game for Sunderland, as his contract is expiring in the summer and the Premier League outfit have already announced his exit.

Therefore, the 24-year-old is likely to be a man in-demand, and whilst Ipswich may be in the driving seat to secure Neil permanently, he is likely to attract several offers.

Here we look at TWO Championship clubs who must try and finalise a deal for Neil if Ipswich don’t secure his signature on a long-term basis…

Sheffield United

It may seem strange to suggest a central midfield addition for the Blades, as they are well-stocked for options in the middle of the park right now.

But, it could look different in the summer. Kalvin Phillips is only on loan at Bramall Lane, whilst Joe Rothwell will enter the final year of his contract.

Meanwhile, Sheffield United would love to keep Ollie Arblaster and Sydie Peck, but both have attracted Premier League interest, and another year outside the top flight may convince the club to cash in on one of their prized assets to help increase Chris Wilder’s budget.

So, it might become an area they need to address, and Neil is the sort of player that Wilder would love to make part of his squad.

He has won promotion from this level. He captained Sunderland, which demonstrates his leadership qualities, and he is available on a free.

Therefore, he ticks a lot of boxes, and given Sheffield United’s improvement since Wilder returned, they would be an attractive option for the player as well.

Leicester City

Obviously, if Leicester are relegated to League One, then they have no chance of signing Neil, but they will believe they can survive.

If they do, their recruitment needs an overhaul, and targeting players like Neil makes a lot of sense.

He would bring energy and leadership that they are lacking, and, given his contract status, he won’t break the bank.

It might not be the sort of signing that massively excites Leicester fans, but it’s clear they will need players like Neil who have been there and done it over the years, and you would expect him to instantly become a key figure for the Foxes.

Despite their struggles, Leicester are a big club, and Neil may fancy the chance to play a big role in what they hope will be a positive rebuild.