Jermain Defoe holds Sunderland talks as ex Rangers star states his case to replace Ibrox ally

The former England international is now looking to forge a career in management after hanging up his boots in 2022.

Jermain Defoe has revealed that he has held "informal" discussions with Sunderland regarding the vacant managerial position - even if he is yet to be formally interviewed for the job.

The Black Cats have been without a permanent manager since early January, when they parted company with former Rangers boss Michael Beale after just 12 matches in charge. First team coach Mike Dodds has stepped up to the hot seat while the club plan their next move, but a run of just two wins in 11 games has left Sunderland sitting in 15th place in the English Championship.

Since hanging up his boots two years ago, ex-Black Cats and Rangers striker Defoe is now hoping to make a name for himself as a manager. And the 41-year-old, scored 37 goals in 100 matches across two spells at the Stadium of Light, has made it no secret that he would like to succeed old Ibrox ally Beale on Wearside.

Speaking to the Sunderland Echo, he said: “I've had no interview or anything like that. And like I said before when we spoke, I spoke about obviously the people that want to come with me and even in the background, certain players that I know that I can attract, young top players in the country that I can attract to try and get the club back into the Premier League.

“I've had those sorts of discussions. So nothing's changed really, but I've not had an interview. I went to the Leeds-Sunderland game and just watched the team and stuff like that. So that's it.”

The 57-time England cap also admits seeing the success of fellow managerial newbee Tom Cleverley - who has landed the gig at Watford after just one loss in eight matches in temporary charge - has made him even more determined to forge a career in the dugout. He added: “And you know what? It makes me want to do it even more because when I look at the news from Tom Cleverley.

“He was on my player-to-coach course and I see Tom Cleverley getting a Watford job and someone who I played with and a young coach who had one year at Watford and now he's the manager of such a big club. So when you see stuff like this and that, you just think, ‘Okay then, I'm just still waiting for my opportunity’. I've read loads of comments.

“I know the fans. I think for a lot of people, they look at it and think, ‘Oh, it makes sense because of the relationship’. But I mean, we'll see what happens. I'm sure there must be about 10 or 20 managers who would love to have the Sunderland job, do you know what I mean? So it's a massive job.

“So we'll see. I've not had an interview or anything, but I think they're aware that, obviously, I'd be interested in taking a job. Why not?”