Wales coach Chris Coleman is interested in the Sunderland job.
The Daily Mail says the 47-year-old is the club's No 1 pick to replace the sacked Simon Grayson, and should their pursuit be successful then it would represent something of a coup for the Championship's bottom team.
The Welsh FA will meet on Friday to discuss Coleman's future but a return to club management with Sunderland is now a strong possibility.
The former Crystal Palace defender has admitted this year he will leave the Wales post after the World Cup qualifying campaign, though the FA have hopes of him staying on.
Meanwhile, it is understood that Black Cats chief executive Martin Bain spoke with Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill this week but no job offer was made.