Three Dan Neil replacements Sunderland could sign as Roma ‘poised’ for move, Regis Le Bris knows one well

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Sunderland skipper Dan Neil is reportedly on the radar of Italian giants Roma amid the summer transfer window.

The summer transfer window at Sunderland is poised to be a turbulent time following their promotion to the Premier League at Sheffield United’s expense.

Jobe Bellingham’s potential Sunderland exit has dominated headlines, amid his links with a £25m move to the Bundesliga, which has left Black Cats fans divided over his decision.

With owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus setting the transfer budget around £100m, several quality signings should arrive on Wearside this summer, as Regis Le Bris plots an attempt to avoid instant relegation.

Enzo Le Fee became Sunderland’s first summer signing, making his January loan switch from Italian giants Roma permanent as a result of promotion, for a fee in the region of £20m.

Aside from Le Fee, Roma and Sunderland have recently been mentioned in the same breath again, with transfer rumours circulating over their interest in Black Cats skipper Dan Neil.

• READ MORE: Regis Le Bris should make ‘incredible’ defender his next Sunderland signing after Premier League promotion

Three Dan Neil replacements Sunderland could sign

Sunderland skipper Neil has been tipped for a shock exit to Roma, with a report from Alan Nixon for The Sun claiming the Italian giants are “poised to make a shock move” for Neil with a £15m fee mooted.

23-year-old Neil has been a mainstay in Le Bris’ Sunderland side, notching five goal contributions in 48 outings in his defensive midfield role, to captain his boyhood club back to the top flight.

Roma’s interest in Neil will create further concern for Sunderland fans, given his current Black Cats deal expires next summer, and EFL Analysis has outlined three potential replacements if the club chooses to part ways with the academy graduate this summer.

Vini Souza

Vini Souza has cemented himself as one of the EFL’s best holding midfielders following his impressive campaign at Sheffield United.

The 25-year-old featured 38 times under Chris Wilder this term, dominating Championship midfield battles and helping his side to the play-off final, in which they were beaten by Sunderland thanks to Tommy Watson’s last-second winner.

In the Wembley showpiece, Souza’s physicality and midfield presence were difficult for Sunderland to deal with, and the Brazilian would be a stellar replacement if Neil does depart.

Souza ranks among the top two percent of Championship midfielders for defensive actions, inside the top three percent for tackles won, and would be able to make the step up in quality from the second tier compared to the Premier League.

However, the Black Cats will face stern competition for his services, with a host of Premier League clubs circling for Wilder favourite Souza.

Salis Abdul Samed

Salis Abdul Samed spent the 24/25 campaign on loan at Sunderland, but managed only three Championship starts due to persistent injury issues.

Having featured in the Champions League for parent club RC Lens and starring against PSG in Ligue 1, the Ghanaian arrived on Wearside with lofty expectations to potentially keep Neil out of the team, which sporting director Kristjaan Speakman further fuelled with his early appraisal.

Upon Samed’s arrival, Speakman told SAFC.com: “He’s a defensive midfielder player, who is disciplined in and out of possession.

“We believe he will relish the battles that come with playing in a league like the Sky Bet Championship. Salis’ experiences in Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League will stand him in good stead.”

The forgotten Sunderland man didn’t get the shot to prove he wasn’t a flop this season, with his last outing limited to an 11-minute cameo in the 2-0 defeat to Oxford United, and his final start for Sunderland coming in the 1-0 home loss to Blackburn Rovers.

Samed rose to prominence in his debut season at Lens, helping his side finish second in Ligue 1 and qualify for the Champions League.

If the Sunderland hierarchy trust him to rediscover that form when fully fit, then his permanent acquisition would be a sensible option amid Neil’s links with Roma.

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Matteo Guendouzi

Lazio midfielder Matteo Guendouzi would be an ambitious move, but considering Sunderland’s return to the Premier League, a move for the Frenchman is not totally out of the realms of possibility.

The former Arsenal midfielder has featured 94 times across the last two seasons for Lazio, since his switch from Marseille, helping the Serie A side to a seventh-place finish this term.

Sunderland boss Le Bris’ time working in the FC Lorient youth ranks was instrumental in bringing Le Fee, a former academy graduate and first team star of his, to Wearside this season.

Guendouzi is another who developed under Le Bris in the Lorient academy. He made 30 appearances for the first team before he arrived at Arsenal in 2018, and Le Bris could employ the same pull he utilised with Le Fee to plot an ambitious move for the 26-year-old this summer.

In 2019, Le Bris told The Guardian of Guendouzi during his time at Arsenal: “He’s an ambitious player who wants to contribute to unbalancing the opposition team and create goalscoring chances.

“Progressively, he has adapted his technique to his intentions. He is not afraid of making mistakes, and learns very fast.

“He is able to capture the opportunities that appear to him.”

Guendouzi’s estimated £27m transfer tag would be the major obstacle for Sunderland to overcome, but the Black Cats switch would represent an opportunity for Guendouzi to return to the Premier League, under a head coach he knows well.

Le Fee’s shock switch to Sunderland has been vindicated with Premier League promotion. His countryman, and former Lorient teammate, Guendouzi could be the next high-profile Frenchman to join the Wearside ranks.