Niall Quinn is preparing a shock return to Sunderland.

The Sun says the former Black Cats striker and chairman is in talks with an Irish businessman to take the club off Ellis Short's hands.

American billionaire Short, who bought the club from an Irish consortium in 2009, is willing to offload it on the cheap.

He has become increasingly unpopular with fans after the side followed relegation from the Premier League last season by sinking to the bottom of the Championship.

The new owners will have to take on the club's legacy debt — estimated to be around £70million when the investment owed to Short is deducted.

He had been in talks with a German consortium but it is believed Sunderland may be returning to Irish ownership, with former Arsenal and Manchester City striker Quinn involved.