Alex Neil is in advanced talks to become the new Sunderland manager after a move for Roy Keane broke down.
Sky Sports are among several outlets reporting that former Preston boss Neil - who has been out of work since losing his job at Deepdale last year - is now the front runner to take over the reins at the Stadium of Light.
Ex-Black Cats boss Keane was understood to be a leading candidate but is no longer under consideration - despite being interviewed twice for the role.
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Scotsman Neil guided Norwich to the Premier League in 2015 after defeating Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final.
A disastrous season the following year saw the Canaries relegated back to the second tier, but those promotion credentials are what will attract Sunderland as the club aims to climb out of League One.
Neil failed to earn a play-off place by two points in 2017/18 as his Preston side narrowly missed out to Gary Rowett’s Derby side.
Three years of stagnating in mid-table caused the Lilywhites’ board to pull the trigger last March - paving the way for Sunderland to get their man.
The Black Cats have lost their last three games and, with hopes of an automatic promotion spot all but gone, attention must turn to cement their place in this year’s play-off race.
Grant McCann remains another man in the frame, with bookmakers slashing odds on his appointment to 1/2 after Keane was ruled out.
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