Rangers Target Dan Neil Sunderland Transfer Glasgow 2026

Key Points

• Rangers have made formal enquiries to Sunderland for midfielder Dan Neil and winger Romaine Mundle according to Sky Sports exclusive reporting
• Sunderland could sanction Dan Neil’s exit for a cut-price fee as the Black Cats view this as their final chance to secure a transfer fee before his contract expires
• The 24-year-old Neil is out of contract with Premier League Sunderland in the summer 2026 and has played just 13 minutes of league football all season
• Rangers are willing to pay a small fee to sign Neil immediately rather than waiting for a pre-contract agreement in the summer
• Bundesliga side FC Koln have already held talks with Neil regarding a potential summer move on a free transfer
• West Ham, Sheffield United, Coventry City and several other English and European clubs are also interested in Neil’s signature
• Neil is reluctantly willing to leave his boyhood club despite preferring to see out his contract at Sunderland
• Rangers have already lined up Silas Andersen of BK Hacken as an alternative midfield target should Neil deal fall through
• Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris indicated both Neil and Mundle might be permitted to leave in January if they won’t play enough minutes
• Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has named a 26-man World Cup squad including Craig Gordon, Findlay Curtis and Ross Stewart for 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America
• Scotland will face Curacao in a World Cup warm-up friendly at Hampden Park before traveling to face Haiti, Morocco and Brazil in Boston and Miami

Glasgow (Glasgow Express) May 30, 2026 – The 24-year-old central midfielder has fallen out of favour at Sunderland following their promotion to the Premier League, having played just 13 minutes of league football all season according to sources who spoke to Football Insider. Sunderland appear open to allowing Neil to leave on loan or permanently this month, with manager Regis Le Bris stating

“If a player won’t play too much in the second part of the season there is the possibility for him to find another club to get minutes”.

What do we know about Dan Neil’s contract situation at Sunderland?

Neil is out of contract with his boyhood club Sunderland in the summer of 2026, and the Black Cats view this January window as their final chance to secure a transfer fee for the outgoing academy graduate rather than watching him walk away for nothing.

Clubs on the continent can sign players on pre-contract agreements once they enter the final six months of their contracts, and while Rangers also have that possibility available to them, they want to add Neil to their squad before the end of the current winter window.

The Black Cats are hoping they can net some sort of profit on their academy graduate, whose future at Sunderland is uncertain in January.

Neil is reluctantly willing to leave his boyhood club despite being keen to see out the remainder of his deal on Wearside, according to journalist Alan Nixon via his Patreon account.

Which clubs are competing for Dan Neil’s signature?

Intense competition is expected for Neil’s signature over the next few weeks, with several clubs across Europe interested in him, sources told Football Insider. Bundesliga side FC Koln have already held initial talks regarding the possibility of signing Neil on a free transfer in the summer, according to journalist Patrick Berger via his X account.

Premier League side West Ham have also shown interest in the Sunderland midfielder, but Rangers’ desire to sign him has been clear and consistent since the start of the winter window.

According to a recent article from The Star, Rangers have overtaken Sheffield United in their chase for Dan Neil, with the Sunderland midfielder not accompanying his teammates for their journey to London for the upcoming match against West Ham United.

Other clubs including Coventry City and Cologne are also interested in Neil, but the Glasgow giants appear poised to bring him north, demonstrating significant ambition this winter.

Neil is expected to have plenty of English clubs interested in him in the summer, but Rangers’ proposal will still be on the table for him in the long-term and could offer favourable money compared to what’s available in England.

What is Rangers’ alternative if Dan Neil deal falls through?

Rangers already have Neil alternative lined up in the form of Silas Andersen of BK Hacken, Football Insider revealed last weekend. The Old Firm duo Rangers and Celtic are set to battle it out for the highly-rated 21-year-old Danish midfielder, who has been identified as another potential option to bolster the ranks in the centre of midfield.

Hacken are reluctant to lose Andersen in the mid-season window and are expected to place a significant price tag on his head in order to try and fend off the interest from the Glasgow giants.

Nevertheless, the starlet remains firmly on the radar at Ibrox and has already emerged as one of the potential alternative targets to Neil.

How has Sunderland performed since promotion and Neil’s role?

Neil was a vital part of the Black Cats’ promotion-winning side in the Championship last term, contributing significantly to their ascent to the Premier League.

However, since Sunderland’s promotion to the Premier League, the midfielder has fallen out of favour and has been identified by Sunderland manager Danny Rohl and Co as a player who can come in and make a difference elsewhere.

The Stadium of Light star has already been identified as somebody who could come in and strengthen current midfield options at Rangers, according to reports. Sunderland have seemingly accepted the fact that Neil’s exit is almost inevitable given his limited playing time, and their desire to cash in leaves the door open for clubs willing to pay up front to swoop in.

What about Scotland’s World Cup preparations and Steve Clarke’s squad?

In related Scottish football news, Steve Clarke has named his Scotland starting line-up to face Curacao in their World Cup warm-up match at Hampden this afternoon. With just a few weeks to go until the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament in North America, this game will give home supporters the chance to send off their heroes before they take on Haiti, Morocco and Brazil in Boston and Miami respectively.

Steve Clarke named a 26-man Scotland World Cup squad that includes Craig Gordon, Findlay Curtis and Ross Stewart, with the squad set to return to the World Cup for first time since 1998.

Clarke’s selection of Ross Stewart ended a four-year absence from international football, and The Guardian said the Southampton striker’s form led to him being included in the 26-man party.

The lineup for the match against Curacao will see several alterations, with five players yet to join the squad who will do so late on Friday meaning they will not participate at Hampden.

Clarke has named his much-changed Scotland side to face Curacao in Hampden send-off, preserving continuity by sticking with familiar players while testing squad depth before the tournament.

Scotland World Cup Squad Full Details

Scotland’s World Cup squad in full includes goalkeepers Craig Gordon (Hearts), Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), and Liam Kelly (Rangers). Defenders include Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al Ettifaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Dom Hyam (Wrexham), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Everton), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), and Kieran Tierney (Celtic).

Midfielders selected are Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Finlay Curtis (Kilmarnock), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich), and Scott McTominay (Napoli).

Forwards include Che Adams (Torino), Lyndon Dykes (Charlton Athletic), George Hirst (Ipswich), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts), and Ross Stewart (Southampton).

Steve Clarke has officially named his 26-man Scotland squad for FIFA World Cup 2026, but the selection has instantly ignited controversy as 17-goal striker Oli McBurnie is completely out.

The manager’s gamble sees Clarke place faith in Che Adams, Lyndon Dykes, George Hirst, Lawrence Shankland, and Ross Stewart to lead the line instead, which critics argue lacks the current momentum McBurnie possesses.

Background: Dan Neil’s Career and Sunderland Connection

Dan Neil is a 24-year-old English central midfielder who progressed through Sunderland’s academy ranks after a brief period with local club Esh Winning in Tyne and Wear. He eventually made his way into Sunderland’s first team and contributed to their promotion from the Championship to the Premier League. Neil is a former England youth international who was tipped for big things earlier in his career.

The midfielder was dubbed a ‘top player’ by an ex-Sunderland man in 2024, who stressed his view that many clubs would be chasing Neil in the years to come.

Neil has been heavily linked with a move to Rangers this month, and the Glasgow giants are taking their interest to the next level. Despite being want by Rangers this month, the midfielder is prepared to see out his Sunderland contract which expires in summer 2026 and then assess his options.

Sunderland have received interest in Neil from multiple Premier League and Championship clubs, and he may not want the move to Rangers at this moment, but with Rangers seemingly viewing him as an ideal part of their long-term plan, Neil will have plenty of decisions to make in coming months.

Both Rangers and Celtic have also shown interest in Silas Andersen of BK Hacken as alternative midfield targets.

Prediction: How This Development Could Affect Rangers Fans and Scottish Football

If Rangers successfully sign Dan Neil from Sunderland, this development could significantly strengthen their midfield options for Danny Rohl’s title charge in the Scottish Premiership. The addition of a 24-year-old Premier League-ready midfielder with Championship promotion experience would provide immediate quality and depth to Rangers’ squad, particularly important as they compete on multiple fronts this season.

For Rangers fans, securing Neil before the February deadline would demonstrate the club’s ambition and financial capability to compete for top talent despite the Premier League’s financial advantage.

The possibility of favourable money compared to England could make the move attractive to Neil while providing Rangers with value. However, if the deal falls through, fans may need to adjust expectations as Rangers pursue alternative targets like Silas Andersen.

The transfer could also impact the competitive balance in Scottish football, as Rangers adding a player of Neil’s caliber would further strengthen their squad depth against rivals including Celtic who are also interested in Andersen. With Neil viewed as part of Rangers’ long-term plan, this could signal a shift in the club’s recruitment strategy toward younger players with Premier League potential.