Sunderland are leading the race to sign Arsenal defender Daniel Ballard following the breakdown of his proposed move to Burnley. The Northern Ireland defender was expected to join Vincent Kompany's Clarets and he travelled to Lancashire for a medical before the switch foundered over the weekend when the sides could not agree personal terms.
Sunderland were also in the running to sign Ballard and with Burnley now out of the running, they have stepped up their interest in the 22-year-old. The deal is not yet done, with Sunderland's Championship rivals Millwall and Blackpool - both clubs where Ballard has spent loan spells - also understood to be keen on signing him, while there has also been interest from clubs abroad.
But at this stage Sunderland remain hopeful that they can bring him to Wearside. Stevenage-born Ballard joined Arsenal's academy at the age of eight, and while he did not make an appearance for the Gunners he made his senior debut in August 2019 during a loan spell with League Two Swindon Town.
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He went on to spend eight months on loan at Blackpool, playing 25 games and scoring two goals as the Tangerines secured promotion from League One via the play-offs in 2021, when he was a teammate of Sunderland's Elliot Embleton, who was himself on loan at Bloomfield Road.
He spent last season on loan with Millwall, making 31 league appearances and scoring one goal.
Ballard played for Northern Ireland at U18 and U21 levels before making his full debut against Romania in a Nations League game in September 2020.
He has won 15 senior caps in total, scoring two goals, and has played alongside Sunderland men Corry Evans and Trai Hume at international level.
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