Southampton are leading the chase for out-of-contract midfielder Dan Neil. The 24-year-old is a free agent after his Sunderland contract expires on June 30.

What's the latest on the transfer?

Talks are progressing fast, with Saints manager Tonda Eckert placing Neil at the top of his summer shopping list. West Ham are also keeping close tabs on the midfielder, but Southampton are well down the road with this transfer.

Why is Dan Neil a key target for Southampton?

Neil has over 200 senior appearances under his belt and has proven himself to be a reliable midfielder. He can handle pressure and does the dirty work, dropping deep to pick up the ball from the centre-backs and recycling possession cleanly.

What does this mean for West Ham?

West Ham need to act fast if they want to hijack this move. Letting Southampton sign a player of Neil's quality for free would be bad business. Nuno Espírito Santo should be demanding that the boardroom act now. | Category | Stat | | --- | --- | | League standing | 4th in Championship, 80 pts, 22W-14D-10L from 46 games | | Recent form | 3W-2D-0L (WWDDW, most recent first) | | Last result | Southampton 2-1 Middlesbrough (2026-05-12) | Southampton's summer plans are taking shape, and signing Dan Neil would be a major boost. With the new season approaching, the Saints are looking to strengthen their squad and make a push for promotion.