According to Sport Witness, conflicting claims have emerged in France explaining what Sunderland needs offer to entice Will Still away from his post at Reims.
The Championship club disclosed yesterday that they had begun talks with the 31-year-old, who emerged as a viable candidate to replace outgoing Tony Mowbray in the immediate aftermath of his departure. According to The Guardian, owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has spoken with the young coach, who is thinking about moving to the Stadium of Light.
A deal appears to be complicated, with Reims unwilling to let its star leave in the middle of the season, especially with the club competing for an unlikely European position in Ligue 1. Still, he signed a new contract in the summer that will keep him at the club until 2025, making a move away from the Wearsiders impossible.
Reims have realized that they will lose the talented manager in the summer, and there is a condition in his new contract that allows him to depart with their approval. It also adds that Sunderland has other preferred targets, and that compensation would be payable if they pursue Still now.
L’Equipe, on the other hand, refutes those assertions while admitting that the provision would demand a lower amount at the end of the current campaign. The number is not specified, but it is believed that a sizable sum would be required to persuade the French club to allow the former Beerschot boss to move on to greener pastures.
The North East giants are eager to wrap up their manager search, especially after winning their past two games in convincing fashion under temporary boss Mike Dodds. Sunderland have moved back into the play-off places after victories against two other promotion-chasing teams, West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United.
The 37-year-old will almost certainly be in command for this weekend’s trip to Bristol City, who have lost three of their past four Championship games.
Author’s Opinion
Following yesterday’s claims that the club and Still had already held preliminary talks, the situation seemed to be continually shifting.
While the situation is tricky, Sunderland will want to get it right and know that they are in good hands with Dodds in interim command. Because of his rapport with the players, time is on their side, and last night’s stunning triumph over Leeds United will have given them a huge lift. There will undoubtedly be more twists and turns in this story.
