Rangers and Sunderland are both looking for a new manager.
Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill
According to Sky Sports, the Scottish FA have made an approach for Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill, and Sunderland are preparing to make their move too.
O’Neill, 48, has worked wonders with Northern Ireland since taking the job in 2011, with his greatest achievement coming with taking his side to the 2016 European Championships – and then into the knockout stages of that tournament.
However, O’Neill couldn’t take Northern Ireland to next summer’s World Cup, with a narrow 1-0 aggregate defeat to Switzerland in the play-offs – and O’Neill could now move on.
Sky Sports claim that the Scottish FA have now made an approach to land O’Neill, in the hope of landing him at Gordon Strachan’s replacement, whilst the same report notes that Sunderland are poised to make an approach too.
Sunderland sacked Simon Grayson last month and could move to make O’Neill – a former Newcastle player – their new manager if he does decide to leave his post as Northern Ireland boss for a return to domestic management.
Formerly of Brechin City and Shamrock Rovers, O’Neill is in demand right now, as The Telegraph report that Rangers are also interested, having parted ways with manager Pedro Caixinha last month.
Despite some scepticism from fans, O’Neill could be a smart appointment for Rangers, having done a remarkable job with Northern Ireland, and having been around Scottish football for some time, he will understand the pressure of working at Ibrox.
Yet with Scotland and Sunderland waiting in the wings, Rangers must ramp up their interest in O’Neill immediately if they do want him, or they will risk missing out entirely.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
