SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 21: Dan Ballard of Sunderland scores the first goal for his team and celebrates during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sunderland AFC and Norwich City FC at Stadium of Light on December 21, 2024 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
Dan Ballard could leave Sunderland for Sheffield United – These 4 replacements must be on Regis Le Bris’ list already
Sunderland centre-back Dan Ballard could depart the Stadium of Light in the upcoming summer transfer window, with fellow Championship promotion-chasers Sheffield United reportedly interested in making a move for his services.
Northern Ireland international Ballard has been with the Black Cats for close to three years now, after he joined the Wearside club from Arsenal in June 2022 on a three-year deal for a reported £2 million fee.
He has since been an important figure in their backline over recent seasons when fit, especially during their promotion push this term, but has suffered recurring injury issues that have hampered his and the Black Cats’ progress.
Ballard is clearly a great talent with high potential, and Sunderland are reportedly set to demand around £12 to £15 million for his signature this summer, after Football League World exclusively revealed that Sheffield United are interested in signing him soon, providing that their promotion back to the top flight of English football is secured.
With that in mind, Black Cats boss Regis Le Bris may have to start planning for life without his key man next season, and FLW have picked out four centre-backs that Sunderland could sign this summer to replace a player of his quality and stature.
Harry Darling
Harry Darling has been the closest player, statistics-wise, to Ballard in the Championship this season, according to FBref’s player comparison data. The 25-year-old joined Swansea City from MK Dons in 2022 on a three-year deal, and so is currently set to leave South Wales upon the expiry of his contract this summer.
Darling has been a consistently standout performer for the Swans since his arrival, and it comes as little surprise to see him rated so similarly to Ballard, given their impressive respective abilities with the ball at their feet, aerial prowess, and knack of popping up with a goal from a set-piece.
| Harry Darling’s 2024/25 Championship statistics | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 37 |
| Goals | 4 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Pass completion % | 87.9% |
| Progressive passes per 90 | 3.91 |
| Fouls drawn per 90 | 1.51 |
| Ball recoveries per 90 | 4.08 |
He has previously been linked with a move to the Blades, but with new reports of their interest in Ballard, Sunderland may well have a real chance of signing him to replace the Northern Irishman.
Darling is out of contract at the Swansea.com Stadium in June, and looks set to leave with no new updates on whether he will sign a new deal. The Black Cats could certainly do a lot worse than signing him to replace Ballard, if he departs soon.
Ashley Phillips
Ashley Phillips may only be 19-years-old, but he has been Stoke City’s best centre-back this season after moving to the Potters on loan from Tottenham Hotspur last summer.
Phillips, who emerged through Blackburn Rovers’ academy, has featured 35 times in all competitions in a turbulent campaign at the bet365 Stadium, but has impressed in his first full season of first-team action after spending some of last term at Plymouth Argyle and picking up their Young Player of the Year award.
Sunderland have built their recent successes on a young core of their squad, and so Phillips would fit right into their thinking if they were to snap him up on a loan deal this summer from Spurs.
He is quick, strong and athletic, which are all attributes that also describe Ballard, so the Black Cats may well look to North London to bring him in soon.
Japhet Tanganga
A potential signing that would be more ambitious than the previous two mentioned is that of Japhet Tanganga from Millwall. The ex-Spurs man has been a real hit at The Den since his initial loan move last January, which was then turned into a permanent transfer in the summer.
Tanganga has been one of the second-tier’s best defenders this season, which is more impressive considering he has been playing for a club that has largely been sat mid-table throughout the campaign. The 26-year-old has been a mainstay at the heart of the Millwall defence, with 40 appearances and two goals to his name so far.
