‘£20–25m…’ – A Sunderland supporter pundit makes a strong statement while Burnley arranges a defensive trade.
AUTHOR CHRIS GALGHER
Burnley’s interest in Sunderland’s Dan Ballard is a testament to his strong start to the year, as Premier League teams have taken notice of his performances.
Ballard’s long-term deal gives Sunderland the leverage in discussions, so even with interest, they will need to make a sizable offer to go.
Sunderland’s approach is to acquire and nurture youthful players, offering them at a premium when their worth is satisfied. Should Ballard sustain his current level of performance, he may draw in additional interest.
The ‘Terrace Talk’ series from Football League World features the perspectives of our FLW Fan Pundits on a variety of topics, including teams, players, managers, potential signings, and breaking news.
After an outstanding start to the season, Dan Ballard of Sunderland has drawn interest from Burnley, the latest Premier League team.
Dan Ballard is wanted by Burnley.
The 24-year-old Northern Ireland international joined the Black Cats last season, and despite a season marred by injuries, he obviously made an impression because in the summer, he was linked to West Ham.
Ballard, though, was able to stay with Sunderland and has now inked a new deal that will keep him at the Stadium of Light through the summer of 2027.
However, rumours that Burnley is eager to sign the defender surfaced over the weekend, indicating that the team is still interested in the player.
In an interview with FLW, fan commentator Jack acknowledged the interest in Ballard and said a sale wouldn’t come as a huge surprise, but he insisted the team should hold out for a high price.
Given Ballard’s exceptional defensive abilities, I’m not shocked in the slightest. He has performed incredibly well for us, particularly this season, and he has even added goals to his repertoire. If you’re searching for a comparable young defender, consider the transfers of Harry Maguire and Harry Souttar. Especially towards the conclusion of the season, I believe you may get £20–£25 million for him.
Then, ideally without any injuries, he would have played for us for the entire season. He’s a fantastic football player, and we’re fortunate to have him, but he will be aware that his time here won’t last long.
Will Dan Ballard be sold by Sunderland?
Undoubtedly, Sunderland will be reluctant to let the player go, and they should be commended for safeguarding their asset by getting a long-term deal with the centre defender in the summer.
This implies that they will have the last say in any negotiations and that the onus will be on any buying club to make an outrageous offer to get the Wearside outfit to make a deal.
In all likelihood, Sunderland won’t sell in January since they anticipate being considered for promotion, and losing such a significant player would cause significant disruptions in the coming year.
If they don’t go up, though, it might be a different story in the summer because Ballard will believe he can play at the best level.
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Sunderland’s policy is to acquire young players with room to grow and sell them for a premium, but as they demonstrated with Jack Clarke this summer, they won’t make a profit until their valuation is satisfied.
Ballard’s story will be similar, and if he keeps playing at this calibre, teams will be vying for his signature in addition to Burnley.
And what about Sunderland next?
As previously stated, Ballard’s circumstances will not be a concern for Sunderland at this time, and his primary goal will be to assist the squad in gaining promotion this season.
Although their most recent loss to Middlesbrough was disappointing, they won’t focus on it because of the refereeing call that altered the outcome of the match.
Following the international break, Ballard and his Sunderland colleagues will travel to Stoke City.
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