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Burnley are still interested in Sunderland's Dan Neil despite Sean Dyche exit - report
Burnley are still interested in signing Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil despite the exit of manager Sean Dyche, according to Alan Nixon.
The 20-year-old was a target the former Clarets boss, but his sacking has not stopped the side from honing in on the youngster for a possible move in the summer.
Neil has enjoyed a breakout year for the Black Cats, making 46 appearances so far after just nine in the previous three seasons combined.
According to Nixon on Patreon, Ian Butterworth went to watch the England under-20 international last week and if the side from the North East don’t gain promotion he could be available.
Aston Villa are also reportedly interested, but Burnley have the advantage of offering him a clearer path to first team football.
Rebuild
That first-team football could of course be in the Championship, which is much less of a draw than the bright lights of the top flight.
But after only one season as a regular starter in the third tier it could still seem like a much more sensible step to take if the Clarets go down.
Sunderland are currently leading Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 following the first leg of the opening round of the play-offs, so an advance on the current situation may be a way off yet.
What has largely been a dismal season has a chance to be rescued at the death by caretaker boss Mike Jackson.
Following the dismissal of Dyche it seemed like the club were in free-fall and nailed on to be relegated.
But an unlikely revival saw them put together a run of three wins and a draw, to put them right back in the mix against Leeds and Everton.
Defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday (7 May) damaged those prospects, but with a single place still to be settled and Leeds imploding at Arsenal on Sunday, only one rival needs to be overcome.
In other Football Wonderkids news, David Moyes will try to sign Armando Broja in the summer for West Ham.