ITALIANS Roma are poised to make a shock move for Sunderland skipper Dan Neil.
South Shields-born Neil, 23, led the Black Cats back to the Premier League via the play-offs last week — but could now be off to Serie A.
GettyDan Neil helped his boyhood club to Prem promotion[/caption]
Roma are keen on the hard-running midfielder who is aware of their interest and a £15million deal could be thrashed out.
British players are respected in Italy right now off the back of Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour helping Napoli to the title.
Neil’s move would rock Sunderland, though, who are already preparing to lose Jobe Bellingham.
The 19-year-old is already talking to clubs in Germany and likely to leave in the aftermath of their 2-1 win over Sheffield United.
Bellingham joined the Black Cats for £3m in 2023.
The midfielder has since played 90 times, scoring 11 goals.
He is a regular for England‘s age group sides, and has so far earned four caps at Under-21 level.
Speaking after winning promotion last week, Bellingham told Sky Sports: “I always believed, you have to believe.
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Shutterstock EditorialJobe Bellingham was a key figure for Sunderland this season[/caption]
“When you’ve got supporters like this and a group of lads like that, you always have to believe.
“I always believed and I know people doubted us and that’s understandable, we lost a few games, people talk about momentum.
“But I think we did enough, we showed enough throughout the season for people to at least give us some credit going into the play-offs.
“The typical ‘inexperienced’ by all the ex-pros that speak on Sky but we’ve just proved that don’t matter.
“You need experience, of course, with youth like at Sunderland you play loads of games you get that experience.
“You get experience by failing and we failed together so many times and in the end we come good.”
Neil, meanwhile, burst onto the scene after debuting in 2018.
The all-action midfielder has since become captain of his boyhood club.
Neil has played 197 times for Sunderland, scoring 12 goals and laying on 20 assists.
