'Medical Booked' for West Ham, Rangers and Ipswich Town target in Premier League transfer race

West Ham have been dealt what looks to be a fatal blow in the pursuit of Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil this month with the player expected to complete a move to Ipswich Town.

The 24-year-old has been linked with the Hammers in recent weeks. Football Insider claimed that the London outfit had made a move to sign Neil prior to beating Sunderland 3-1 at the weekend.

The outlet added that Neil was left out of the matchday squad due to ongoing transfer speculation with the club keen to cash in on the player rather than letting him leave as a free agent this summer. The defensive midfielder has played just 13 minutes of Premier League football this season but had been named in the matchday squad as a substitute for every fixture prior to the visit to the London Stadium.

West Ham, Sheffield United and Rangers set to miss out on Premier League transfer

It seemed a move that would make sense for West Ham, with the potential for Neil to add immediate stability to the squad, as well as being a player with Championship experience should relegation happen at the end of the campaign.

The Yorkshire Post also report that Sheffield United and Rangers held credible interest in a move for Neil, who has spent the entirety of his career so far at the Stadium of Light. However, it is another club who have stolen in to win the transfer race.

That is Ipswich Town. In an update on Monday afternoon, Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie wrote on social media platform X: “Dan Neil is currently having a medical at Ipswich Town. The Sunderland midfielder has travelled south today to finalise a loan move to the Tractor Boys.

Dan Neil undergoing Ipswich Town medical

“This means the 24-year-old has played his last game for his boyhood club, with his contract up in the summer. Neil failed to start a game this season for #SAFC in the Premier League, having captained them to promotion last season. Ipswich have fended off serious interest from Rangers to land the midfielder.”

Kieran McKenna’s side sit third in the Championship and are chasing an immediate promotion back to the Premier League. The Tractor Boys are five points off the automatic promotion places and seven points clear of sixth.

Speaking about Neil’s future following the defeat to West Ham, Black Cats boss Regis Le Bris said: "We don't know yet, there's nothing official. Something might happen in the next few days, we'll see."

In other news, West Ham now chasing experienced Serie A defender in bid to relegate Nottingham Forest/