Reports are suggesting that former Brighton boss Gus Poyet has been contacted by Sunderland with a view to the Uruguayan replacing Paulo di Canio at the Stadium of Light.

The news comes ahead of their league cup tie with Peterborough tonight. Coach Kevin Ball will take temporary charge of the team for that match.

But Sunderland will want to fill the vacancy as quickly as possible as they sit rock bottom of the Premier League.

It is understood that Poyet is the preferred choice. The former Brighton manager has Premier League ambitions, however he is believed to have reservations about joining a club languishing at the bottom.

Poyet was sacked by Brighton in acrimonious circumstances last season.