No playoff anxiety needed for both Coventry City and Ipswich Town, the two best teams in the Championship having comfortably secured their place in the Premier League earlier this month.
It's all eyes now on strengthening ahead of mounting a real survival bid next season, with Leeds United and Sunderland showing the way in 2025/26, the Black Cats ending the campaign in seventh to secure Europa League qualification.
sunderland-premier-league-regis-le-bris
That remarkable rise for the Wearsiders has come amid a perfect blend of loyalty and ruthlessness, with Regis Le Bris keeping faith with the likes of Trai Hume and Dan Ballard, albeit while notably discarding promotion-winning skipper, Dan Neil.
The 24-year-old is now a free agent after spending the second half of 2025/26 at Portman Road, while a move to Coventry has since been mooted in recent weeks and months.
Dan-Neil-Sunderland
Frank Lampard's side evidently appear keen to dip into the free agent market, as further reports suggest.
Coventry battling Ipswich to sign experienced free agent this summer
Out of contract following his brief spell with the Tractor Boys, Neil appears to be a leading target for Lampard if rumours are to be believed, potentially set to be afforded a second chance in the Premier League, following his exile under Le Bris.
Watford's Stephen Mfuni in action with Ipswich Town's Daniel Neil
That said, the suggestion is that Glasgow giants Rangers are now closing in on a move for the Englishman, with former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl seemingly leaning on his EFL knowledge.
Neil isn't the only out-of-contract star on Coventry's summer shortlist, however, with TEAMtalk reporting that the Sky Blues are among the clubs interested in departing Brighton and Hove Albion man, Solly March.
March is set to leave the Seagulls this summer after making a final appearance for the club against Manchester United at the weekend, having risen up through the youth ranks.
As per the report, Kieran McKenna's side are also in the mix too, with both clubs seemingly valuing the 31-year-old's experience at Premier League level.
solly-march-brighton-premier-league
The only sticking point is that neither Coventry nor Ipswich is alone in their admiration, with the likes of Everton and Newcastle United also said to have expressed their interest.
Why March could represent a better signing than Neil this summer
Sunderland may have bucked the trend, but the jump up from the Championship to the Premier League is never straightforward, with those who starred in the second tier often falling short in the top-flight.
Dan Neil - Ipswich loan
Stat (*per game)
Games
Starts
Goals & Assists
Big chances created
Pass accuracy*
Key passes*
Tackles*
Interceptions*
Total duels won*
Ball lost*
Neil, unfortunately, falls into that category, the Englishman starting 44 Championship games last season under Le Bris, yet subsequently restricted to only three appearances in the Premier League, totalling only 13 minutes.
It could be said that he simply wasn't afforded the chance to prove himself after promotion, but Neil's lack of action in the top tier could be of concern for both Coventry and Ipswich, particularly at a time when experience might be key in the bid for survival.
dan-neil-sunderland
March could well prove to be a superior signing in that regard, therefore, with the versatile forward making 194 Premier League appearances to date on the south coast.
Comfortable operating on either flank, or even as a wing-back, the in-demand talent has chipped in with 34 goals and assists in the top-flight to date, while his total tally at the Amex stands at 57 goals and assists in 300 games in all competitions.
Solly-March-Brighton
He's certainly no superstar, but there's plenty to like about Brighton's departing number seven, having particularly sparkled when afforded consistent game time under Roberto De Zerbi.
Back in 2022/23, for instance, March scored and assisted 14 goals in the Premier League, creating 17 'big chances' and averaging a stellar two key passes per game.
For context, that tally of 'big chances' created ensured the Englishman finished fifth in the division in that regard, highlighting just what an outlet he can be when fit and firing.
He has, frustratingly, only made 19 league appearances since the end of that campaign due to struggles with injury, although considering his performances during De Zerbi's time at the helm, this seems like a gamble worth taking.
Neil might well have been a solid signing for Coventry last term in the second tier, although there's little to suggest he would flourish at Premier League level, particularly after a muted loan under McKenna.
Frank-Lampard-Kieran-McKenna
As for March, if he can enjoy a clean bill of health, the 31-year-old could well prove an astute, bargain deal for either of the promoted pair, having already shown what he can do in arguably the best, most competitive league in the world.
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