What is the latest with Sunderland’s manager search for Lee Johnson’s replacement?

It has been a whirlwind past few days for Sunderland fans with the sacking of manager Lee Johnson and the return of much-loved striker Jermain Defoe. 

Despite coming off the back of a 6-0 defeat to Bolton, Johnson’s departure was a shock to many – not least because the Black Cats are sitting third in League One right now.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus revealed that the search for a new manager began on Tuesday morning as they’d prioritised some late-window signings on Sunday and Monday.

He added: “What we are doing is working on it and speaking to many people because we have had huge interest in it [the job] from all over the world.

“We were overwhelmed, to be honest. We will do the process diligently to find the right person.”

Given it’s such a high-profile job, it’s no surprise that a number of names have already emerged as early contenders to take charge.

Paul Cook, Grant McCann, Mick McCarthy, and Neil Lennon have all been linked with the vacant role at the Stadium of Light by the Northern Echo, while reports yesterday revealed that Neil Warnock is interested in taking charge.

It is understood that Warnock, who holds the record for the most EFL promotions of any manager, would be open to becoming the interim boss until the end of the season.

Former Sunderland manager Roy Keane has also been touted as a potential candidate given his comments on his previous spell at the club.

Everton coach Duncan Ferguson, who has recently been named as part of Frank Lampard’s backroom staff at Goodison Park, has also been mentioned in relation to the job but Chronicle Live has reported that there has not been any contact between the Black Cats and the Scot.

A caretaker boss has yet to be named by the