Interest Grows for Sunderland Midfielder Dan Neil from Bundesliga Clubs

Sky Germany reports that Bundesliga rivals 1. FC Köln and Borussia Mönchengladbach are both interested in signing Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil on a free transfer. The German pay-TV broadcaster indicates that exploratory discussions have already taken place between Köln and the player’s representatives.

At 24 years old, Neil finds himself facing an uncertain future with his academy club, particularly following the arrival of Bundesliga veteran Granit Xhaka. His current contract is set to expire, prompting interest from both Köln and Gladbach, who have differing strategies for acquiring the South Shields native.

With Neil’s estimated market value at €6.5 million, he aligns with Köln’s January transfer budget. However, much depends on whether the club decides to move forward with the acquisition of Austrian defender Stefan Posch, who is expected to cost a similar amount. Köln’s central defense is a pressing concern, but their midfield also requires urgent reinforcement, especially given that players such as Isak Bergman Johanneson, Tom Krauß, Eric Martel, and Dennis Huseinbasic are experiencing performance dips. It appears challenging for Köln to secure both Posch and Neil simultaneously.

On the other hand, Gladbach has yet to make any financial commitments during the January transfer window and remains under financial constraints. Consequently, the team is likely to consider signing Neil on a free transfer at the end of the season. It is worth noting that while Gladbach operated under a different managerial regime last January, former sporting director Roland Virkus successfully acquired two talents on free transfers.