Fabrizio Romano reveals Liverpool talks involving Sunderland as Lutsharel Geertruida future comes into focus
Sunderland have been dragged into a surprise deadline-day transfer storyline after Fabrizio Romano revealed that Liverpool are in talks to sign Lutsharel Geertruida, with the Black Cats involved in early discussions.
Romano reported on Sunday that Liverpool have opened club-to-club negotiations as they look to strengthen defensively, with initial contacts having taken place with Sunderland. The move is being driven by Liverpool head coach Arne Slot, who knows Geertruida well from their time together at Feyenoord. Any negotiations would need the blessing of Sunderland.
Geertruida joined Sunderland on a season-long loan from RB Leipzig last summer and has remained part of the club’s long-term thinking, even if his first-team minutes have been limited in recent weeks. The Netherlands international moved to Leipzig in August 2024 in a deal worth around €20million before making the temporary switch to Wearside.
The defender’s Sunderland future has already been the subject of scrutiny after he was left unused during last weekend’s defeat to West Ham United, despite being named among the substitutes. Geertruida had played 45 minutes for Sunderland’s under-21s earlier in the week but did not feature at the London Stadium, with Luke O'Nien instead introduced at right-back.
Speaking after the game, head coach Régis Le Bris explained his decision and insisted it was purely tactical. “Yes, it's just a question of thinking,” Le Bris said. “We have many options on the bench. Depending on the situation, I can feel the profile and what suits the situation. I trust Lucha, and I trust Luke. It was a choice on the bench, a tactical choice. I don't have any preferences, I just want to win, to fight with this squad and to find the best solution. Sometimes I can't find the best solution, sometimes I make a mistake as a coach as well - it's possible. Everyone is involved and needs to accept the situation.”
Geertruida’s pedigree is well established. A product of Feyenoord’s academy, he went on to become a key figure in their Eredivisie title-winning side in 2022-23 and featured in a UEFA Conference League final before earning a move to the Bundesliga. At international level, he has represented the Netherlands at under-21 level and made his senior debut in 2023, later featuring at Euro 2024.
Régis Le Bris speaks warmly regarding Dan Neil after Sunderland exit
Régis Le Bris has spoken warmly about Dan Neil following the midfielder’s departure from Sunderland earlier this week, stressing his respect for both the player and the role he played during a pivotal period for the club.
Neil has joined Ipswich Town on loan for the remainder of the season, a move that brings his long association with Sunderland to a close when his contract expires this summer. The switch ends an 18-year journey that saw the academy graduate make 201 senior appearances and play his part in two promotions, including captaining the club back to the Premier League.
While Neil’s minutes were limited this season, Le Bris highlighted the importance of his influence both last year and during the early stages of the current campaign, particularly in helping a reshaped squad settle following promotion. The head coach revealed he had been in touch with Neil since his exit, describing a relationship built on honesty and mutual respect.
“Huge player and so for the club, for me as manager as well,” Le Bris said. “The connection we had last season was absolutely perfect. The way we worked together, the way he managed the team as a captain, and he was a key factor to manage the togetherness with Luke, probably those two players last season were really important for that topic. The journey is the journey, and I think he's now in a new part of his professional life. You have to leave at times, but with respect and good memories. We spoke over text about the pathway we had together. There’s a lot of respect. He did a good job, and now it’s a new part of his life.”
Le Bris also addressed the situation surrounding Neil’s reduced role this season and insisted that their relationship remained strong throughout. He made clear that there would have been no issue had the midfielder remained at the club until the end of his deal.
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‘As a manager, you have to do your job,” Le Bris said. “So it's not difficult if the conversation is still open. Direct, clean, respectful, and that was the case with Dan. So it was tough because you say you won't be the captain, it will be Granit. He knows that the level is the level, and he fought until the end. His contract situation was the contract situation. So not solved one year before, and when you come into the final year of your contract, with this level of competition, you know that something will happen. So it was already... not the end of the story, but the direction [was set], I would say. And after that, the transfer window is the end.
“If Dan would have stayed with us until the end, for me, it was completely comfortable. It wasn't a problem. It was his decision now. Do I need to leave? Do I think that I need game time now, rather than staying on the bench with maybe some opportunities, but not sure? He decided that it was better to leave, to play, to be involved in the core of the group. It wasn't the case with us, and we need to respect his decision.”
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