Sunderland have been handed a Will Still lifeline, after the 31-year-old was linked with the Lens job.
Sunderland have fancied Will Still, 31, for six months now, with his initial links to the Stadium of Light emerging at the end of 2023.
Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus wanted Still to replace Tony Mowbray but couldn’t afford his compensation at the time.
Since, Still has left Reims, sparking speculation that he’s heading to Sunderland this summer, before he then met with Norwich City officials last week.
The Canaries seem to prefer Johannes Hoff Thorup though, potentially leaving Still free to head to Wearside this summer.
But it was then revealed that French Ligue 1 side had added Still to their list of potential candidates and that Still was ‘interested’ in the club’s project.
Sunderland though have now been gifted a potential lifeline in their long-term pursuit of Still.
Sunderland handed Will Still lifeline after Lens interest emerges
Lens are on the lookout for a new manager and apparently have several names on their radar, according to Foot Mercato journalist Sebastien Denis.
Denis revealed on X that Lens have four names on their list of potential managerial candidates, with Still ‘on the list’.
But Denis also adds that a potential deal for Still is ‘far from done’, leaving Sunderland with a bit of breathing space where a potential appointment for Still is concerned.
The same message goes to Sunderland and Kyril Louis-Dreyfus
It’s clear that Louis-Dreyfus and co like Still, and why they didn’t pull the trigger as soon as he became available remains to be seen.
And why the club is yet to appoint anyone is baffling, and worrying for fans who are starting to become very anxious about what the summer and the 2024/25 season might have in store.
The more time that goes by, the more managers that will slip through Sunderland’s grasp; Danny Rohl, Bo Svensson, and now potentially Still who’s seemed like the front-runner throughout the whole process.
Losing out on Still, whether Sunderland fans want to see him arrive at the club or not, would present a huge blow to the board.
It would also shed a light on just how long the club has now been without a manager and how long the search process is taking.
But Denis’ latest update gives Sunderland a glimmer of hope where a deal for Still is concerned, though Sunderland must act fast.
That’s been the message for some time now. If Louis-Dreyfus and co continue to wait and wait on a hiring their next manager, they’ll eventually be forced into a panic appointment.