Liam Rosenior is of interest to Sunderland's Championship rivals Burnley as they begin the search to replace Vincent Kompany.
According to The Athletic, Rosenior is one of the names who has featured in the early stages of Burnley's process, with preliminary interviews set to begin this week. Frank Lampard and Scott Parker have both been heavily linked with the role after Kompany left to join Bayern Munich in a shock post-season switch and are both understood to be firmly in the running though others could yet emerge.
At this stage, such interest appears unlikely to have a major impact on Sunderland's head coach search. Rosenior is the overwhelming favourite with the bookmakers for the vacancy on Wearside and is understood to be one of the leading candidates as the club's search for Michael Beale's successor reaches its final stages. The Black Cats are holding what is expected to be the final round of talks and meetings in the early stages of this week before a final decision is made.
Rosenior is thought to be one of the frontrunners, with QPR boss Marti Cifuentes also admired. The Athletic say that Burnley are in no rush to make a decision and an appointment is likely to be weeks rather than days away, with Kompany's former assistant Craig Bellamy placed in interim charge. It remains possible that he oversees the initial stages of pre-season.
Sunderland's appointment, whether that be Rosenior or one of the other candidates still in the running, is expected far sooner after Kyril Louis-Dreyfus told fans a decision was 'imminent' at the end of last week. You can read all the latest on Sunderland’s head coach search in full from our latest update HERE.
Here, we take a look at the latest odds from SkyBet:
1. Wouter Vrancken
The Belgian coach has been given odds of 100/1 to become Sunderland's next permanent head coach by Sky Bet. He was priced at 50/1 last week. Photo: JILL DELSAUX
2. Lee Carsley
The England youth coach has been given odds of 100/1 to become Sunderland's next permanent head coach by Sky Bet. He was priced at 66/1 last week. Photo: Naomi Baker
3. Paul Ince
The former Reading and Manchester United man has been given odds of 100/1 to become Sunderland's next permanent head coach by Sky Bet. He was 66/1 earlier last week. Photo: Gareth Copley/Getty Images
4. Paul Cook
The former Wigan Athletic man has been given odds of 100/1 to become Sunderland's next permanent head coach by Sky Bet. He was 66/1 last week. Photo: Alex Davidson