Source: Telegraph
Slaven Bilic eyes Sunderland job
Steve Bruce was Sunderland's first choice to replace Ricky Sbragia at the Stadium of Light, with Wigan lining up Roberto Martinez as his successor.
However, Sunderland have baulked at Wigan chairman Dave Whelan's £5 million compensation claim if Bruce were to leave the JJB.
According to the Star, Bilic is ready to quit his current role as coach of the Croatian national team and has already been linked with the vacant Celtic job.
Rudi Vata, Bilic's agent, said: "Sure he would be interested in talking to Sunderland if they wanted to talk to him.
"He'd be open-minded about any discussions if they were interested."
Sunderland owner Ellis Short will reportedly provide £40m for the new manager to strengthen the squad, and has demanded a top 10 finish from whoever takes the job on.
Short said: "We need to get this team into a place where they will try to finish in the top 10 next year. I don't want to promise and then not be able to deliver but that's genuinely what we are going to try to deliver."
Panathinaikos have bid £1.5m for Sunderland goalkeeper Martin Fulop, while 21-year-old defender Peter Hartley has joined Hartlepool on a two-year deal.
