Ipswich Town backed to seal 'no-brainer' transfer for star with over 200 Sunderland apps | OneFootball

FLW's Ipswich Town Fan Pundit has weighed in on Dan Neil's start to life at Portman Road and if he should be signed by the club this summer.

Ipswich Town's bid for promotion back to the Premier League was strengthened on Saturday afternoon as they ran out 3-0 winners against Swansea City at Portman Road, a result that saw them close the gap to Middlesbrough.

Boro were not in action over the weekend, allowing the Tractor Boys the opportunity to close in on Kim Hellberg's side, with the gap coming down to just three points by the time Saturday evening came around and the Suffolk outfit are back on track after a disappointing loss to Wrexham a week earlier.

Kieran McKenna and his team have won back-to-back games in the Championship, and they have not conceded a goal during that time, and while their defensive unit should be praised, it is those in midfield who are truly impressing right now.

That includes a January transfer window addition, who arrived on loan from the Premier League after a difficult start to the campaign for himself. However, he is quickly becoming a star at Ipswich, and now supporters are surely wondering if there is the possibility of signing him permanently in the summer.

Ipswich Town backed to complete Dan Neil signing in the summer transfer window

Dan Neil made his way to Portman Road from Sunderland at the end of January, joining the Tractor Boys on loan after finding it tough to find a path into the starting XI at the Stadium of Light following their promotion to the Premier League.

However, after such a positive start to life with his new club, Football League World has asked their Ipswich Fan Pundit, Adam Wilkin, if he wants to see the midfielder sign permanently this summer. He said: "We've had the luxury of easing Dan Neil in gently, but I'd say he's an excellent addition because he's the perfect balance between a number of the other midfield profiles that we've got.

"He can make tackles, which means he's great cover for Azor Matusiwa, but what I've been impressed with is his ability to turn players and get the ball moving through either progressive passing or just bypassing the midfield with a bit of a body swerve."

Adam continued: "I think it would be an absolute no-brainer to get him on a free contract at the end of the season, no matter what division we're in. If we're in the Championship, then he'd be the high-end player at this level. If we're in the Premier League, I'm slightly surprised that he's not been given a chance at Sunderland, but then they have signed a lot of players.

"But I still think he'd be worth a punt on a free as a squad player if that's what he wants to do. He might not want to do that. He might want to come down to the Championship and play regular football. But, I think he'd be a no-brainer of a signing."

Dan Neil's Sunderland contract situation makes a permanent transfer an easy decision for Ipswich Town

Before making his way to Ipswich, Neil had only ever played for Sunderland. He made 201 appearances in red-and-white, while he also played 46 times for the U23s and a further 12 times for the U18s.

The Wearsiders run through the midfielder's blood, but with it looking likely that they will stay in the Premier League for 2026/27, the 24-year-old became isolated and a move away in the January transfer window was the best way for him to get the football that he wants.

However, he will not return to the Stadium of Light, with his contract set to expire in the summer, and therefore a permanent move becomes much easier for Ipswich to negotiate once this season comes to an end.

Neil has a point to prove, particularly in the Premier League, and he will be extremely keen to win his second Championship promotion in two years and return to the top flight with the Tractor Boys and prove to Sunderland that he has the quality to play in the division.