Breaking: As negotiations continue, a former Manchester City player is the unexpected favorite to unseat the man holding the top spot for the Sunderland position.

The Black Cats have made no secret of their desire to land the managerial prospect. Famed for his Football Manager background, the 31-year-old continues to be linked with the vacant Black Cats hot seat.

The video game is cited by Still as the tool he used to craft his tactical prowess before moving into management. A successful spell at Reims has resulted in calls for him to cut his teeth on British soil.

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Jobe Bellingham’s Sunderland love and transfer delight

Look across the Championship and there aren’t many 18-year-olds playing every single week. The Sunderland forward is hugely talented, mature beyond his years and perhaps destined for the Premier League.

“Jobe’s life is difficult,” says Sunderland’s interim head coach Mike Dodds, who first clapped eyes on the teenager on a football pitch a decade ago.

“Wherever he goes, he’s never going to get away from that.

“It’s difficult for me to comment but I don’t think anyone will truly understand what it is like to be Jobe – if he goes anywhere in the world, he’s Jude’s brother, he’s not Jobe. Him having his own identity is something he desperately craves. I’m sure as he gets older and he gets more accolades and he does wonderful things in football, he’ll be appreciated for who he is.”

The youngster’s desire to carve out his own identity is why he’s opted to wear ‘Jobe’ rather than ‘Bellingham’ on the back of his Sunderland jersey this season.

“He’s desperately fighting to be recognised for him. It’s always going to be a battle for him, that’s the reality. But everyone [here] is doing their part,” said Dodds.

“I think the group and the staff are really understanding of Jobe’s situation. We don’t discuss the brother stuff with him at all, if he wants to discuss it, that’s up to him.”