Lothar Matthaus is among the big names keen on the Sunderland job.

"We've already been contacted by enough people from around the globe to know that Sunderland are a major attraction," said Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn.

The Daily Mail says two of the foreign names to have made their interest known are Felix Magath, manager of Portsmouth's UEFA Cup conquerors Wolfsburg, and Matthaus, both formerly of Bayern Munich. Matthaus is now managing in Israel.

Gus Poyet is also said to have made himself available following his removal as Juande Ramos's assistant at Tottenham.