An update has emerged regarding interest from Premier League clubs In Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil...

What's the talk?

According to The Sun's Alan Nixon, Burnley and Aston Villa are both keen on signing the youngster, although the latter are said to be more likely to make an immediate swoop for his signature.

The report claims that the Black Cats are weighing up offers as they contemplate cashing in on the 20-year-old. No figures have been mentioned regarding the bids or the club's valuation of Neil.

Season-defining

Lee Johnson must avoid a season-defining disaster with Neil. He cannot afford to let the midfielder leave this month as he is crucial to the Black Cats' attempts to get themselves out of League One.

Selling him could potentially cost them promotion, a situation that would understandably leave fans gutted. After all, he has been a crucial member of the team so far this season, with Sunderland second in the table as it stands.

Only Ross Stewart (27) has started more league games than Neil (25) for the Black Cats this season, while the latter also has more assists (seven) than any other player, which highlights his importance to the side. The youngster is a regular for the Wearsiders and is repaying the manager's faith by delivering consistent performances, with an average SofaScore rating of 6.95.

Earlier in the campaign, Johnson said of Neil: "He's technically a very good player, you can see the way he manipulates the ball, and I think he has added another dimension to his game in being able to drop and drive, as we call it, and receive the ball and commit players.

"He's got that lovely dribbling technique, a little bit like a young Paul Gascoigne almost in the way he sort of hops and drags it at the same time which, as a defender, makes it very difficult to commit because as soon as you do, he's got the ability to skip by you.

"I do expect to see a couple of slalom-type goals from him this season."

These quotes illustrate how impressive the £1.4k-per-week gem has been for Sunderland and why selling him would represent a major blunder by the club. It could be a season-defining disaster if they cash in on him now, as they would lose his consistently brilliant presence in the middle of the park. That could lead to them struggling without his creativity on the ball and regularity of assists, which may have the knock-on effect of them missing out on promotion from League One yet again.

Therefore, Johnson must do everything in his power to keep hold of the Black Cats academy product until at least the end of the campaign.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Doyle: Johnson can seal dream Sunderland partnership with "brilliant" monster...