Sunderland eye Gianfranco Zola as sacked manager Di Canio's replacement

Italian manager Gianfranco Zola is in line to be the next manager of Premier League club Sunderland who recently sacked manager Paolo Di Canio after a major bust-up involving senior players.

According to the Mirror, a Monday board meeting discussed a group of candidates to succeed the sacked Paolo di Canio, which also includes Roberto Di Matteo and Gus Poyet.

Director of football Roberto De Fanti wants a young tracksuit-and-training-ground manager, and Zola of Championship promotion chasers Watford fits the bill, the report said.

Former Chelsea boss Di Matteo is also in the frame but there are concerns as to whether he sees Sunderland as being beneath him, the report added.

Di Matteo has been waiting for a big European club to come in for him and he believes having the Blues' Champions League triumph on his CV can help him land a top job, the report further said.

It is understood Sunderland have also made enquiries about former Brighton boss Poyet, who is out of work and available, according to the report.