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

Sunderland are among several clubs being linked with Leicester City centre-back Ben Nelson, who is said to be valued at £10m to £12m.

According to ExWHUEmployee, West Ham United are interested in the 22-year-old, with Manchester United, Sunderland and Torino also credited.

Nelson progressed through Leicester’s academy and gained senior experience on loan. He featured for Rochdale and Doncaster Rovers before joining Oxford United, where he continued his development in the Championship.

His profile appears to align with Sunderland’s recruitment model, which often targets younger players with scope to develop. Strong competition could make any potential move difficult.

Championship club West Ham are assessing defensive options, while Manchester United’s reported involvement suggests Nelson is highly regarded. Torino could offer a route to Serie A if Leicester choose to sanction a transfer.

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

Any fee at that level would represent a significant outlay, so Sunderland must weigh immediate impact against long-term potential.

Source: Sunderland Echo