Sunderland, Manchester United and West Ham ‘interested in’ £12m Leicester defender Ben Nelson | OneFootball

Sunderland have been linked with Leicester City centre-back Ben Nelson, who is said to be valued at between £10m and £12m.

According to ExWHUEmployee, West Ham are interested, with Manchester United, Sunderland and Torino also credited with an interest.

The 22-year-old came through Leicester’s academy and gained senior minutes on loan at Rochdale and Doncaster Rovers. He later joined Oxford United, continuing his development in the Championship.

His age and profile fit Sunderland’s recruitment model, which targets younger players who can grow in value. Strong competition could make any move difficult.

Championship club West Ham are considering their defensive options. Torino could provide an Italian pathway if Leicester choose to sanction a sale.

Sunderland are expected to consider several centre-backs this summer as Régis Le Bris and the recruitment team look to strengthen the squad. For now, Nelson appears to be on the radar rather than the subject of an advanced move.

Any £10m to £12m fee would be a significant outlay, so Sunderland must judge his immediate impact alongside longer-term potential.

Source: Sunderland Echo