Rangers and Dan Neil update telling as Sunderland decision locked in
Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil is unlikely to be heading to Ibrox this month.
With Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers urged to back Danny Rohl in the January window, Sunderland’s Neil emerged on Rangers’ transfer radar over the last week.
Rohl has got Rangers in serious title contention after a disastrous start to the 2025-26 season under Russell Martin, with the Gers now in the midst of a five-game winning run after Rohl’s side beat Aberdeen 2-0 at Pittodrie last time out.
However, after a slow start to the winter window, Rangers fans were starting to become worried that the positive momentum of their Premiership form wouldn’t be reflected in their transfer dealings, but all those fears have been cast aside over the last couple of days.
Rangers interest levels in Dan Neil revealed
Rohl bagged his first signing as Rangers head coach on 11 January, as Tochi Chukwuani completed a move to Ibrox in a £4million switch from Sturm Graz.
Meanwhile, Westerlo defender Tuur Rommens is also expected to finalise his Rangers move imminently, whilst Andreas Skov Olsen is jetting into Glasgow to join the Rohl revolution from Wolfsburg.
However, it’s the first of those deals, Chukwuani, whose signing appears to have had a knock-on effect on Rangers’ interest in Neil.
As revealed in a fresh update from Sky Sports News’ transfer centre on Wednesday, Rangers’ interest in Neil is believed to have not ‘progressed any further’ at this stage.
Neil would be excellent for Rangers
So, whilst it’s probably true that the addition of Chukwuani has shored up Rangers’ central midfield depth nicely, Neil shouldn’t now be kicked to the proverbial transfer curb.
Firstly, the future over Nicolas Raskin remains unclear currently, with the Belgian being linked to some top clubs, but also not closing the door on signing a new long-term contract at Ibrox either.
As such, there remains a possibility that a highly lucrative offer lands on Rangers’ desk for him this month, and the last thing Rohl will want to do is let him leave without feeling sure he’s been replaced.
- Neil has played 201 times for Sunderland
- He’s scored 12 goals for the Black Cats
- Neil started 44 Championship games in Sunderland’s Premier League promotion season last term, and has captained them numerous times
During his time on Wearside, the 24-year-old established himself as one of the top central midfielders in the Championship, and has been an unfortunate victim of the arrivals of Granit Xhaka, Noah Sadiki and Habib Diarra respectively.
Neil completed 1,612 successful passes in the Championship last season, completed 40 successful dribbles, took 2,531 touches, won 208 duels, made 252 recoveries and averaged a 7.1/10 per league match; he could still be a superb signing for Rangers this month.
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