The 30-year-old has endured a frustrating season at Villa Park, with the club sitting 15th in the Premier League table.
Black Cats boss Martin O'Neill is understood to be keen admirer of the England international, according to The Sun, and could launch a £2.5m bid in the summer.
Warnock has two England caps to his name.
Restore Data
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | |
| 1 | Liverpool | 23 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 56 | 21 | 35 | 56 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 24 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 49 | 22 | 27 | 50 |
| 3 | Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest | 24 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 40 | 27 | 13 | 47 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 24 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 47 | 31 | 16 | 43 |
| 5 | Manchester CityMan City | 24 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 48 | 35 | 13 | 41 |
| 6 | Newcastle UnitedNewcastle | 24 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 42 | 29 | 13 | 41 |
| 7 | Bournemouth | 24 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 41 | 28 | 13 | 40 |
| 8 | Aston Villa | 24 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 34 | 37 | -3 | 37 |
| 9 | Fulham | 24 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 36 | 32 | 4 | 36 |
| 10 | Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton | 24 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 35 | 38 | -3 | 34 |
| 11 | Brentford | 24 | 9 | 4 | 11 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 31 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 24 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 28 | 30 | -2 | 30 |
| 13 | Manchester UnitedMan Utd | 24 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 28 | 34 | -6 | 29 |
| 14 | Tottenham HotspurSpurs | 24 | 8 | 3 | 13 | 48 | 37 | 11 | 27 |
| 15 | West Ham UnitedWest Ham | 24 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 29 | 46 | -17 | 27 |
| 16 | Everton | 23 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 23 | 28 | -5 | 26 |
| 17 | Wolverhampton WanderersWolves | 24 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 34 | 52 | -18 | 19 |
| 18 | Leicester CityLeicester | 24 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 25 | 53 | -28 | 17 |
| 19 | Ipswich TownIpswich | 24 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 22 | 49 | -27 | 16 |
| 20 | Southampton | 24 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 18 | 54 | -36 | 9 |
| > Premier League Full Table | |||||||||
