Sunderland look to be closing in on one of their main managerial targets this week.
That’s according to The Guardian, who have reported that Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has already held ‘positive talks’ with Reims head coach Will Still.
It has been nine days since Sunderland sacked Tony Mowbray following a run of only two wins in nine games in the Championship.
The Wearside outfit have been linked with a long list of names from both the EFL and abroad, but it is now understood that they could look to swoop in for Will Still.
The 31-year-old took Reims on a 17-match unbeaten run in his first season, and is now four points away from reaching the Champions League qualifiers.
Despite an excellent start to life in Ligue 1, Sunderland are looking to tempt Still to move to the Championship and it is believed he could be ‘open’ to the move.
Reports in Belgium this week have claimed there have already been disagreements over recruitment during the January transfer window between Still and the Reims board, leaving him to potentially consider a return to England.
Still only turned 31 years old in October and has very minimal managerial experience under his belt, while it wasn’t that long ago that Reims were getting fined €25,000 every match due to the coach not holding a UEFA Pro Licence.
However, Still has really impressed in France and has already caught the eye of another former Sunderland target Francesco Farioli.
The Italian was considered to replace Tony Mowbray in the summer before joining Nice, where he currently sits second in the league table. Farioli’s side narrowly beat Reims at the weekend, but the 34-year-old was extremely complimentary of Still.
As per One Football, Farioli said: “We are two lucky young managers to be able to manage clubs that have put such faith in young managers.
“He is even younger than me! It will be the first time I’ve come up against a manager younger than myself! He is a manager who already has a lot of experience and he has now been there for a while.
“He has been able to work and construct, notably during the summer transfer window by bringing in profiles that correspond with his style. It is a team built with a vision. He is a manager who knows what he wants and he is continuing to do good work. Congratulations to him.”
Mike Dodds or Will Still?!
After two wins on the bounce for Mike Dodds, it is very clear that some fans are debating whether he should be handed the job permanently.
To sack a brilliant manager like Tony Mowbray and then bring in a manager with even less experience than Will Still, just because of two games, seems like a massive risk we don’t really need to take.
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Kristjaan Speakman have a model in place and know exactly which direction they want to go in with this club, and we should trust them.
To now steer away from it would be crazy, especially when Will Still is the current favourite to take the reins.
He is one of the most exciting names we have ever been linked with and it’s fair to say we would catch a lot of eyes if he made the switch to the Stadium of Light.