Aston Villa are now looking to sign Sunderland’s young midfielder Dan Neil after receiving rave reviews from their scouts.
According to The Sun, Villa are considering making their move to sign Neil during this month’s transfer window.
Villa scouts are allegedly ‘raving’ about Neil, and are keen to get him in before Burnley make an offer of their own.
Burnley are keen on Neil, but Steven Gerrard may have the upper hand in the race to sign the youngster.
Neil and Gerrard allegedly share the same representation in terms of their agents, which could help in any talks.
Villa have already signed immediate impact players in Lucas Digne and Philippe Coutinho, but Neil would be one for the future.
Neil, 20, has come up through the Sunderland ranks raving arrived from Hebburn Town as a kid.
A boyhood Sunderland fan, Neil has emerged as a first-team star this season, racking up 33 appearances in all competitions.
Now with an England Under-20 cap to his name, Neil appears to be developing rapidly. Premier League interest is therefore no huge shock.
Former Sunderland striker Stephen Elliott has already backed Neil for the highest level having been blown away with his displays this season.
The highest praise for Neil has come from his manager Lee Johnson though, who has overseen his rapid progress.
Johnson told The Chronicle in October that Neil is a ‘young Paul Gascoigne’ thanks to his ‘lovely dribbling technique’.
Neil of course has a long way to go until he matches Gascoigne’s level, but what an exciting comparison.
Gascoigne was Gerrard’s hero, so maybe the Villa boss sees something of the former England legend in Neil too.
Sunderland will want to stand firm given that they are targeting promotion this season, but Villa may come calling with big cash for Neil.
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