Sunderland could now be handed a further blow in their pursuit of one ‘unbelievable’ manager.
Sunderland are three months into their search for a new permanent head coach, with Mike Dodds leading them to only two wins in 13 games as interim.
With the season coming to an end last weekend, the Black Cats are likely to step up their pursuit.
However, reports have claimed they could still be waiting at least three weeks as they wait for leagues around Europe to finish.
While Jermain Defoe is one of few coaches who have publicly said they want the job, it appears that Sunderland’s three main targets have been Danny Rohl, Will Still and Rene Maric.
Will Still has seemed a likely appointment recently, after Reims confirmed that he would leave the club this summer.
Though it is Danny Rohl that has been consistently linked with a move to the Stadium of Light for months now.
The German joined Sheffield Wednesday in October when they were seven points adrift at the bottom of the Championship, but went onto avoid relegation with a win over the Black Cats.
Wednesday’s survival already made a move away less likely, with reports claiming he was expected to stay at Hillsborough.
Sunderland can cross one name off their shortlist
Sunderland have now suffered a further blow in their pursuit of Rohl though, with The Star claiming that the Owls are set to offer him a new contract.
The ‘fantastic‘ 35-year-old’s current deal will expire next summer, but the Yorkshire outfit are reportedly eager to tie him down to an extension now.
They have already begun training ground renovations too, which is one aspect that Rohl insisted on being improved if he was to stay.
‘Positive’ meetings between the Wednesday board and Rohl have already taken place, so he could well be on his way to signing a new contract.
Who Sunderland should appoint instead of Danny Rohl
Sunderland’s failure to beat Wednesday at the weekend confirmed their place in the Championship next season, and in turn, probably ended their pursuit of Rohl.
It seems highly unlikely that he will move to Wearside now, and there has been very little talk of their interest developing since.
While Rohl could have done a brilliant job at Sunderland, Still’s availability is surely too good to ignore.
The 31-year-old has already spoken about moving to the Championship and now that he doesn’t have a hefty compensation fee above his head, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus would be crazy not to go all in for him.