Serie A Giants Linked With Premier League U23 Starlet

Young Premier League Star Linked With Italian Switch

The Serie A has become well-known in recent seasons for it's crop of Premier League imports, particularly those from the UK and Ireland.

More and more players from nearby shores have been making the bold decisions to step abroad to move on with their careers, with the most notable names including the likes of Scottish Napoli star Scott McTominay and Brighton wonderkid Evan Ferguson with Roma (on loan).

With the latter-most club mentioned there in mind, Serie A might soon be welcoming a new young face to their ranks, as Gian Piero Gasperini is reportedly eyeing up a new Premier League transfer to help bolster their midfield department.

Black Cat's Abroad - Long Serving Graduate Linked With Serie A Switch

Dan Neil is the player in question, with the 23-year-old Sunderland midfielder currently linked with a winter switch to Rome, according to AS Roma Live.

Neil has been a long-standing fixture at the Stadium of Light since making his Sunderland debut back in 2018 at the tender age of just 16-years-old. He continued his ascent into a mainstay in Sunderland's first team, totting up 200 appearances in their red-and-white stripes as they club completed their ascent from League One hell to getting back into the Premier League.

I’m still shaking every time I think about Dan Neil’s 200th appearance https://t.co/ChWXRXgTb2

— Paddy (@SAFCPaddy) November 11, 2025

However, the South Shields-born midfielder's situation has changed on Tyneside this season, with the academy graduate playing just 2 Premier League minutes so far this campaign, struggling to break back into the team amidst the strong form shown from the likes of Granit Xhaka and Habib Diarra.

As he hasn't made an appearance for the club in well over a month - his last coming from the bench as Sunderland defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers in October this year - Neil is reportedly prepared to move away from his boyhood club in this winter window, with his contract at Sunderland set to expire at the end of the season.

This would mean that Neil could depart the Stadium of Light for only a minor fee, as sporting director Florent Ghisolfi is yet to embark on any new contract talks with the midfielder, who made 48 appearances for the club as they earned promotion to the Premier League through the EFL Championship playoffs.

Neil A Roma Target

Dan Neil has reportedly been a long-term target of Roma's for some time. The 23-year-old midfielder could be forgiven for departing the club this winter after the diminishment of his game-time and standing within the overhauled Sunderland squad.

💬 'It's always been a dream of mine to play for Sunderland - I'm ready to fight for my place...'

Watch Dan Neil's first interview since signing a new three-year contract on Wearside 🎬⤵️

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) September 29, 2020

He has been on the books with Sunderland for 15 years, first joining the club as a child back in 2010 and completing his ascension from the academy side all the way into a first-team regular. His performances over the years have drawn interest before - Burnley and Aston Villa were looking to sign him back in January 2022 - and the time now seems set for Neil to depart the club.

He doesn't appear to be the Les Bris' immediate plans for the season and discussions over a new contract for him are yet to take place, as mentioned. With that in mind, Roma's long-standing interest in his services and his current situation at Sunderland may make this winter the perfect time for Neil to make a bold switch to a Serie A giant.