Ipswich Town look set to be joined by Coventry City in the fight to sign Dan Neil at the end of the season.
The 24-year-old midfielder left his boyhood club Sunderland during the January transfer window, aiming to obtain frequent minutes after joining the Tractor Boys on loan.
However, with Ipswich chasing an instant return to the Premier League, Neil has not been as central to the team as he would have liked.
According to reports from Alan Nixon, EFL Championship leaders Coventry City are believed to be major fans of the former Sunderland man. The Sky Blues could be able to offer Neil Premier League football if they were to gain promotion.
Dan Neil made his move from Sunderland to Ipswich in the winter, with the Tractor Boys looking to add further depth into that area of the pitch. However, the 24-year-old has only featured nine times in the EFL Championship for the Suffolk side.
With Jens Cajuste and Jack Taylor also competing alongside Neil for a spot beside the incredibly consistent Azor Matusiwa, it does seem as if Kieran McKenna has preferred the former Sunderland man in recent weeks.
Since Ipswich’s 5-3 defeat to Wrexham, Neil has only been named a substitute twice, starting the other five games in that time period.
However, if Ipswich were to return into the top flight of English football straight off the back of relegation, Dan Neil may not be a favourite in the squad.
As Sunderland were promoted last season, Neil quickly fell down the pecking order. This in turn saw him depart for more regular minutes. Staying with Ipswich could lead to a similar outcome.
The Tractor Boys will likely add quality to the central area, which may put Dan Neil out of favour at Portman Road were he to stay.
This being said, however, the qualities the 24-year-old possesses are super. He is a strong and capable leader, having captained Sunderland frequently last season. Neil also holds an experienced head, with 211 first-team appearances to his name.
Ipswich may look elsewhere, though, with Premier League experience not something Neil has much of.
Last time the Tractor Boys were in the top flight, they lost out at times due to little experience on such a big stage. If a return occurs, this time Kieran McKenna’s men could look more toward some bigger names to try and scrape survival.
With Coventry looking likely to take a giant leap into the Premier League, survival could be a challenge. With this in mind, being rumoured to someone like Dan Neil will surprise many. This comes down to his lack of experience within the top flight.
Frank Lampard’s side have been relentless all season, and a lot of that has come from success in midfield. Matt Grimes has been a relentless figure, becoming a key part of the project for Coventry City this year.
The 30-year-old midfielder has consistently performed, and Grimes certainly looks ready to take the step up into the top flight.
New addition Frank Onyenka also looks to be settling in nicely at Coventry. Since joining on loan from Premier League side Brentford, the 28-year-old has looked a calm head in the middle. Carrying experience in the top flight, more than that of Dan Neil. With both of these players in mind, the Sky Blues already hold a very solid midfield structure.
Already holding such a quality midfield structure brings the question whether Coventry City should engage in any dealings for Dan Neil. It seems as if experience and pedigree will be key next year, which just isn’t something the Sunderland academy graduate holds.
Where could Dan Neil end up? He holds plenty of experience in the Championship, but would he be ready to bring that into England’s top tier? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
