Sunderland have reportedly drawn up a shortlist of potential replacements for Paolo Di Canio that includes his countrymen Gianfranco Zola and Roberto Di Matteo.
Black Cats owner Ellis Short decided to dismiss Di Canio on Sunday night following a dismal start to the campaign, with just one point to show from five Premier League games.
Mackems director of football Roberto de Fanti is in charge of finding a new manager and is believed to have voiced his desire to appoint a young and tactically astute manager.
Di Fanti has a working relationship with Watford technical chief Gianluca Nani and has put Zola forward as a potential candidate for the vacant post, according to The Mirror.
Former Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion boss Di Matteo is out of work and is also reportedly on the shortlist, which was discussed at a board meeting on Monday.
Sunderland are also reported to have made a tentative enquiry regarding the availability of Gus Poyet, who is looking for a new challenge after a bitter exit from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer.
Short has put academy coach Kevin Ball in charge for the next two matches at least, the first of which is against Peterborough United this evening.
