Wolves pushing to sign 26-cap defender who’s a ‘natural leader’ with five other Premier League clubs also keen

TBR Football can reveal that Sunderland are facing a battle to hang on to Daniel Ballard in January.

A host of Premier League clubs are tr༺acking the former Arsenal trainee, who has shone since joining the Black Cats in 2022.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are understood to be pushing for possible deal for the 25-year-old central defender, but they are not a༒lone in their admiration.

READ MORE: Fenerbahce fans send message to Wolves after Vitor P✅ereira confirmed as new Molineux manager

Wolves up against Aston Villa, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Fulham and Newcastle for Daniel Ballard

TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey has been informed that Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal Palace and Fulham have also been watching Daniel Ballard.

Likewise, Sunderland’s local rivals Newcastle United have also scouted the Northern Ireland🔯 international this season.

Ballard has made 11 Championship appearances for Sunderland this season and has started their last six leagu🐲e games after recovering from an ankle injury.

His efforts have helped the Black 🎃Cats into the play-off places and jus🙈t five points behind leaders Sheffield United.

Wolves are currently 19th in the Premier League table and have just appointed Vitor Pereira as their new head coach after parting company with Gary O’Neil.

Meanwhile, Villa are currently seventh in the Premier League table, Fulham are eighth, Brighton ar𝓰e ninth, Newcastle sit in 12th place and Palace are 15🍨th in the standings.

Daniel Ballard factfile

Ballard is a 25-year-𒊎old professional footballer who plies his trade for Sunderland and represents Northern Irel♛and at international level.

He came through t𒆙he ranks at Arsenal and took in loans at Swindon, Blackpool at Millwall while on the Gunners’ b🦂ooks, but never made a senior appearance for them.

Arsenal sold Ballard to Su♌nderland in 2022 and he has made 77 appearances to date for the Wearside outfit, as well as winning 26 Northern Ireland caps.

Ballard ♍has been described by Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill as a “natural leader” who “brings a lot” to the s📖quad, as per the .

previously cཧlaimed that “he is very similar to Michael Keane and Harry Maguire”🌠 in terms of his style of play.