- George Hirst has said that the club that lands Dan Neil will be “lucky to have him”
- The Scotland World Cup squad member played with Neil while the latter was on loan at Ipswich Town
- Rangers are interested in bringing the 24-year-old to Ibrox
Scotland striker George Hirst has backed Rangers’ transfer plan for Dan Neil, claiming any club would be “lucky to have him”
With Rangers said to be in talks with the former Sunderland captain, Hirst believes he would be an effective acquisition for the rigours of the Scottish game, as part of a glowing endorsement for his former teammate.
The Scotland World Cup squad member detailed Neil’s character as well as his tenacity on the pitch, and he believes his grounding in the football hotbed that is the north-east of England would allow him to settle in the Glasgow goldfish bowl.
Go and get Dan Neil, says Hirst
Rangers are interested in Dan Neil, although this report claimed an agreement is not close at present, with Premier League clubs in contact with the player.
Hirst was speaking ahead of the journey across the Atlantic for the World Cup.
This week, the Scotland squad is in training, preparing for the final home warm-up game against Curacao at Hampden on Saturday.
“Dan is a quality player and I can’t say a bad word about him as a guy either,” said Hirst, as reported by the Rangers Review.
“He came to us in January and fitted in straight away.
“He’s playing for Sunderland having come through their academy and they’re another big club. That area is football mad, you’re either Sunderland or Newcastle.
“So that in itself comes with a pressure so Dan has grown up used to having it, in reference to the demands of Glasgow.
“He’s a quality player, on the ball excellent as he’s tidy and clean. And off the ball, he does the dirty stuff as well.
“I haven’t spoken to him so I don’t know where he’ll end up going. But whoever gets him will be lucky to have him.”
Readrangers.com analysis – Graeme Hanna
As a free agent, he will be able to command a significant contract and signing-on fee, but it could come down to the football.
Neil wasn’t able to break into Sunderland’s Premier League side on a consistent basis at the start of last season.
He only featured sparingly for Ipswich as they secured promotion to the top-flight in recent months, so a big decision lies ahead.
This writer is unsure if Neil should be a priority signing for Rangers, especially at the expected cost of his financial package and his overall credentials.
Rangers could well be needing to replace – and upgrade on – Nico Raskin. That will require technical ability and a presence to make an impact at home and in Europe.
Does Dan Neil fit that profile? The jury is out.
