Exclusive: West Ham Launch £6m Bid for Sunderland Midfielder Dan Neil

West Ham United have lodged a formal bid for out-of-favour Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal. 

The 24-year-old homegrown talent has a number of admirers this month as his Black Cats’ exit looms large.

Ipswich Town are reportedly leading the race for the former England U20 international, with Rangers eager to take him north of the border. 

But as interest intensifies heading into the final week of the transfer window, our sources understand West Ham have made their move with a £6million bid, plus sizeable add-ons, for the former Sunderland skipper. 

Our sources understand promotion-chasing Ipswich have also tabled an offer for the player, who Sunderland value closer to the £10million mark. 

Sheffield United are understood to have been priced out of a move after being interested earlier in the window. 

It is expected Neil’s future will be decided in the coming days with the player out of contract at the end of the season. 

Sad End For Local Star

Neil fell down the pecking order following the club’s promotion to the Premier League. It was a transitional summer at the Stadium of Light as the club splashed the cash in a bid to try and avoid the recent tradition of promoted sides going straight back to the Championship. 

A total of 15 new faces came through the door during the club’s summer spending spree and it has been an impressive first half of the campaign for Régis Le Bris' side.

Academy product Neil captained the Black Cats to Premier League promotion, as they returned to the top flight after eight years away. 

But his place at the heart of midfield was taken by Swiss international Grant Xhaka and he has played just three times for the club this season.

During his time at the club, Neil has made over 200 appearances and scored 12 times and will fondly remember Wembley triumphs in the 2021 EFL Trophy final and last May’s play-off promotion. 

The closing days of the window are set to spark a Manchester derby off the pitch too, with both United and City monitoring West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes amid the presence of a relegation release clause that could ignite a late, high-stakes transfer tussle.