Sunderland enter race to sign 22y/o gem who can be "the difference", he’s Neil’s dream – opinion

Sunderland are interested in signing Southampton’s 22-year-old midfielder, Will Smallbone.

That is according to a report from Football League World who claim that the Black Cats are one of three teams interested in securing Smallbone’s services.

As per the report, it is said that the Ireland U21 international could be allowed to leave Southampton on loan this summer in search for more game time, after he made 12 appearances in all competitions last season, playing a combined total of just 603′ minutes of football in the first team.

Millwall and Burnley also hold interest in the midfielder and it is reiterated in the exclusive report that if the Saints are to trigger the midfielder’s exit this summer, he will not be short of suitors in the EFL.

With a total of 29 combined goals and assists in a split between 14 goals and 15 assists in his career from the reserves to the first team, Smallbone managed to make consistent strides in his progress, having conjured up 118 appearances thus far.

But this season has seen his game time drop pretty significantly, and as a result, a move to pastures new is exactly what he needs to rejuvenate a career that is in danger of stalling before it fully gets going.

Smallbone’s versatility throughout the central areas of the pitch make him an Alex Neil dream and he has shown that in the words of Dylan O’Connell, he can be “the difference” on the pitch.

Over the course of his career thus far, the 22-year-old has occupied seven different positions, making over 40 appearances as a central midfielder and an attacking midfielder.

He’s also played over five times as a right midfielder and defensive midfielder, with two or more appearances coming as a right-winger, left midfielder and at