Liverpool are among a “dozen clubs” who could make an offer for Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil this month, according to Sunderland Nation.

The Reds are believed to be among the front runners for the 22-year-old’s signature, along with Arsenal, Tottenham and Sporting Lisbon, having previously enquired about his availability last summer.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have continued to keep an eye on Neil, who has been a key part of Sunderland’s rise to 6th in the Championship table.

A number of the Black Cats’ players are attracting Premier League interest but Sunderland Nation claim that Neil is the “most coveted”.

Who is Dan Neil?

The midfielder is Sunderland born and bred. He grew up in South Shields and is a boyhood fan of the club. After starting out at Hebburn Town Juniors, he joined the Black Cats academy in 2010.

Neil spent 8 years working his way up the youth ranks before making his senior debut in the EFL Trophy against Morecambe. He has gone on to make 131 appearances for Sunderland, scoring 10 goals and providing 15 assists.

He is known for his versatility, having been deployed as a No.6, No.8 and No.10 in his career. The former England Under 20 international seems like a great fit for manager Jurgen Klopp, who requires a lot from his midfielders.

Why are Liverpool interested in the Sunderland player?

The departures of Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain last summer mean that the Reds could run into homegrown quota issues.

Premier League rules stipulate that clubs must have 8 players in their 25-man squad reserved for homegrown players, which Neil would qualify for. Of course, there are other reasons why Liverpool would make an offer for the player (as mentioned above) but it does make him a more attractive target.

Watch a preview of Liverpool’s plans for the January transfer window on Shots!TV here