Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit urges Sunderland to avoid "crazy" Dan Neil decision | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie believes Sunderland should do everything they can to keep Dan Neil at the club this summer

Sunderland captain Dan Neil has recently been linked with a move to Serie A club AS Roma.

According to the Sun, I Giallorossi are keen to bring the 23-year-old to the Italian capital this summer and are prepared to pay £15 million for his services.

Neil played a crucial role in helping take his boyhood club back to the Premier League, but could be set to make a move across the continent in the upcoming transfer window.

Roma finished fifth in the Italian top-flight last season and are preparing for life under their new manager, Gian Piero Gasperini.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports pundit and former Aston Villa midfielder, Lee Hendrie, believes this shouldn’t be a sale that Sunderland are quick to sanction.

Lee Hendrie hands Sunderland firm transfer stance amid Dan Neil exit rumours

“Sunderland have been promoted and all credit to them,” stated Hendrie. “But you can’t start selling players like Dan Neil, who's been one of their most consistent players.

“If they think about selling players like him for £15 million, they'd be crazy to do so. He's one of them players that you can certainly depend on during games, probably sometimes the unsung hero.

“To sell him could be a backwards step because their squad depth is not big enough at the moment. There are lots of players being linked away from the football club and they've just got into the Premier League.

“It's not a shock that he's being linked away because he'd suit playing in a Roma side, because he has got that bite, that energy and he's a good footballer.

“But they have to keep some of their players. They have to build on what they've got and that's the problem. Lots of their key players are being linked away.

“You do worry about Sunderland, how they can progress and how they can actually give themselves a chance of staying in the Premier League. The only way that they can do that is by keeping their key assets.”

Dan Neil may regret leaving Sunderland this summer

The past season would’ve been one dreamt up by Neil as a child, leading his club to Wembley success and immortalising himself within Sunderland folklore.

However, rumours suggest the midfielder may leave the Black Cats before getting to enjoy the reward he worked so tirelessly for.

Although Roma would be able to offer Neil Europa League football, they can’t replicate the feeling of representing your boyhood club in the English top-flight.

With Jobe Bellingham set to join Borussia Dortmund, Neil leaving would leave Sunderland’s midfield decimated, a scenario the Mackems could do without as they best prepare their squad for Premier League football.

If the club captain leaves now, he may never get to represent Sunderland in the Premier League.

A move to Italy may progress his career, but it could leave Neil with regrets that may haunt him come the end of his playing days.