Sunderland must avoid Pierre Ekwah action, as Dan Neil's
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Sunderland must avoid Pierre Ekwah action, as Dan Neil’s interest grows: View

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The situation surrounding Dan Neil only emphasises the key Sunderland transfer decision regarding Ekwah.

Pierre Ekwah’s performances have caught the attention of Premier League clubs this January.

Tony Mowbray and Michael Beale have both relied heavily on the Sunderland midfielder this season.

The 21-year-old has made 20 Championship appearances, with the Black Cats hoping to compete for promotion to the top flight.

Sunderland’s decision concerning Pierre Ekwah

Sunderland midfielder Pierre Ekwah in demand, but January move unlikely -  Sports Illustrated Sunderland Nation

However, Sunderland must do everything they can to persuade the player to stay at the Stadium of Light beyond January.

The midfielder is under contract with the Wearside outfit until the summer of 2027, so there is no immediate need to sell.According to HITC, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace have targeted the Frenchman.

A move to the Premier League must be appealing to someone like Ekwah, who has done well in the Championship after joining West Ham’s youth system in January.

Some may be concerned about his rapid promotion to the top flight, but the way he has settled into life at Sunderland in just a year demonstrates that he has what it takes to do so at a higher level.
However, if Ekwah wishes, he can force the issue and seek a promotion this January.

It is up to Sunderland to persuade him that staying with the club is the best decision for his career.

Keeping him around until the summer would significantly improve their chances of promotion this season.

Ekwah is an important member of the team, and players with his style are hard to come by.

Pierre Ekwah passing statistics – last 365 days
Source: Fbref.com Per 90 Percentile Ranking (for midfielders)
Passes Attempted 57.78 79
Pass Completion (%) 85.6 79
Progressive Passes 6.85 86
Progressive Carries 1.09 45
Successful Take-ons 0.76 50
Touches in the Opposition Area 0.47 22
Progressive Passes Received 0.94 23

His passing accuracy is superb, and his 6.85 progressive passes per game would be extremely difficult to replicate.

Ekwah also makes significant defensive contributions, and his versatility makes him an ideal modern midfielder.

The youngster reads the game extremely well and adds extra solidity to Sunderland’s back line, which will be required to compete at the Championship’s top level.

He brings out the best in other players, including Jobe Bellingham and Dan Neil.
Neil’s Uncertain Future
Neil is another player whose future at the Stadium of Light is uncertain, with reports suggesting that Arsenal, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur are all interested.

Dan Neil reveals his first-team target at Sunderland after signing his  first pro deal - Chronicle Live
The 22-year-old would be hard-pressed to turn down a move to such a prestigious club, making it more difficult for Sunderland to persuade him to stay.

In light of this, it emphasises the importance of the Black Cats retaining Ekwah, as they cannot afford to lose both midway through the season.

This would leave Beale with few options in midfield, and there is no guarantee that suitable replacements could be found during the winter market.

in other news, Why Sunderland’s £34 million loan target was dropped from the squad amid transfer rumours

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