Sacked Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill is being linked with Stoke City.

The Daily Star Sunday says Stoke will swoop for O'Neill should current boss Tony Pulis walk away at the end of the season.

Though Pulis, 55, insisted last week that rumours of his departure are premature, the feeling inside the Britannia Stadium is the Welshman will call time on his seven-year reign.

And if that does happen, O'Neill, sacked by Sunderland just four weeks ago, will be top of the club's shortlist of potential replacements.