Sunderland may yet miss out on one of their manager targets in the summer, says expert Graeme Bailey.
Sunderland are set to hire a new manager in the summer. And as we edge closer to the end of the season, reports linking certain managers with the Stadium of Light are heating up.
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and co are doing their due diligence right now.
Previous reports revealed that Reims boss Will Still remains a person of interest, with Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl also on their radar.
An unnamed Belgian coach was also mentioned alongside Sunderland at the same time.
Paul Heckingbottom is Sunderland no.1 target
More recently, though, former Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom has been linked with Sunderland.
It’s said that Heckingbottom is Sunderland’s no.1 manager target ahead of the summer following his Sheffield United exit earlier this season.
Kristjaan Speakman previously hinted at the club being more inclined to take on an out-of-work coach in the summer, staying in line with the appointments of Alex Neil, Tony Mowbray, and Michael Beale.
Speakman though didn’t completely rule out poaching a manager from another team.
Steve Cooper eyed by Sunderland
Another out-of-work boss mentioned loosely alongside the Sunderland job in the last couple of months is 44-year-old Steve Cooper.
It was previously revealed that Cooper and Sunderland have a mutual appreciation of each other, though more recently there’s been a clamour for Cooper to take the Welsh national job.
And speaking exclusively to Sunderland AFC News, expert Bailey has now played down Cooper potentially arriving at Sunderland, stating that the Black Cats couldn’t afford his wages:
“I do think Paul Heckingbottom would be a good fit. He did a brilliant job at Sheffield United in getting them up. I don’t think they can afford Cooper right now. I don’t think he fits their wage structure.”
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus look destined to appoint one name
Despite the club having money, and despite Sunderland being set to make some more money in the transfer window this summer, the club remains very stringent.
Louis-Dreyfus doesn’t want to overspend at Sunderland, but that said, he surely won’t limit himself and the club in their next managerial appointment.
Cooper always seemed like a long-shot and Bailey’s comments will come as no surprise.
And they also point towards Heckingbottom landing the job in the summer; or potentially even before the end of the season.
He won’t come cheap either, but Heckingbottom won’t have been on huge wages at Sheffield United, so he may be much more affordable than Cooper.
And Still would require a compensation fee and then of course his wages, so for the club right now, Heckingbottom still seems like the logical next appointment.
It certainly has potential to be a very shrewd hire on Wearside.