A manager linked with Sunderland could now land a Bundesliga job ahead of next season.
Sunderland remain without a manager more than three months after sacking Michael Beale, and the Black Cats still seem a way off finding his successor.
Names continue to be linked, including Will Still, Paul Heckingbottom and more, but none appear to be leafing the race to become the next Sunderland manager.
Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus certainly seems to be biding his time, though sporting director Kristjaan Speakman will press on with transfer matters in the meantime.
The latest on the Sunderland manager front is that Heckingbottom is set to be interviewed by Plymouth Argyle this week.
Elsewhere, Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot has issued a rather stark warning about Still, saying: “I think that the ‘Will Still effect’ meant that there were a lot of communications from him, a lot of requests.
“A more experienced coach would have protected himself more, and he went from being a nice guy with a fresh air, to someone who was a little lost in his communication and this was felt in his management of the team.”
Another name linked with a move to the Stadium of Light this summer is Bo Svensson. But he may now have an offer from elsewhere.
Sunderland target Bo Svensson tipped for Union Berlin job
Union Berlin beat the drop in the 2023/24 Bundesliga campaign on goal difference, finishing a place above the drop zone in 15th, with a seven-goal buffer to VfL Bochum in 16th.
Union are without a permanent manager in place and have been since November last year, with an interim having overseen the second half of the season.
But an emerging report from German outlet Watson has revealed that Sunderland-linked Svensson ‘could become new coach’ of Union Berlin.
Svensson was also linked with the Red Bull Salzburg job ahead of this summer, though that’s recently been filled by Jurgen Klopp’s former no.2 at Liverpool Pepijn Lijnders.
Sunderland manager latest points to one candidate
Louis-Dreyfus gave himself plenty of time by placing Mike Dodds in interim charge earlier this year.
But that time has quickly dwindled and now Sunderland are facing a rather inevitable consequence of their prolonged search, in that their reported manager targets are taking on new jobs.
Svensson is being heavily linked with Union whilst the likes of Heckingbottom could become the next Plymouth Argyle manager soon.
That leaves Still as the leading candidate for Sunderland, seemingly, though he’ll likely have other clubs considering him as we enter into the summer.
And if Sunderland continue to bide their time then Still too could become a leading contender for another job.
That could leave Sunderland managerless even going into the summer transfer window which opens on June 14th.
Louis-Dreyfus and Speakman certainly need to get a move on with fans wanting a reset from the 2023/24 season, and something to look forward to this summer.