With the summer transfer window fast approaching, a surprising new candidate has reportedly emerged for the Sunderland managerial position, potentially ending the Black Cats’ wait to replace Michael Beale once and for all.
Sunderland manager news
Several names have been linked to the Sunderland managerial position, including Paul Heckingbottom, Liam Rosenior, and Pascal Jansen, but the club has yet to settle on a permanent solution. The decision-makers at the Stadium of Light have been deliberate in their approach, likely aiming to make the right choice after the unsuccessful Beale experiment that followed Tony Mowbray’s sacking.
Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus recently provided fans with a positive update in an interview, announcing that the process of appointing a new manager is now in its “final stages.”
In his statement via BBC Sport, Louis-Dreyfus said: “We hope to appoint the next head coach of our great club imminently, as we enter the final stages of the recruitment process. We appreciate the patience and support that we’ve received from you throughout the summer, and our aim has always been to ensure that the right candidate is appointed.
“That outcome remains our focus. On and off the field, we have learned from last season when we fell short of all our expectations. We are hungry and ambitious for success and determined to ensure we all enjoy a great 2024-25 season together.”
In a surprising twist, a new report indicates that Sunderland are now considering Marti Cifuentes from Queens Park Rangers as a candidate. According to Alan Nixon, Sunderland’s pursuit of Cifuentes could be complicated by QPR’s expected demand for a significant compensation fee. Nevertheless, the QPR manager has demonstrated enough skill in the Championship to be a strong contender for the Sunderland job if the opportunity arises this summer.
Landing “incredible” Cifuentes would be difficult
The complexity of Cifuentes’ undisclosed compensation package to release him from his QPR contract immediately disqualified him from being Sunderland’s top choice.
The 41-year-old manager did an outstanding job last season, leading QPR to an 18th-place finish in the Championship, six points clear of relegation and just behind 16th-place Sunderland on goal difference. It’s no surprise that James Allcott praised him highly, calling his management “incredible” on X.
However, despite securing QPR’s survival, Cifuentes did not manage to beat Sunderland, with their one match ending in a 0-0 draw.
As Sunderland’s selection process nears its conclusion, it remains uncertain whether Cifuentes will make a surprising move to the Stadium of Light, or if another candidate, such as Jansen, Heckingbottom, or a dark horse, will ultimately take the managerial position this summer.
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