JERMAIN DEFOE could be set to land his first managerial role after holding talks with former club Sunderland.
The ex-England striker, 41, has been a coach of Tottenham's U18s side since August 2022.
But now he has revealed some early discussions with Sunderland, though he was quick to stress no formal interview has taken place.
Speaking to the Sunderland Echo, he said: "I've had no interview or anything like that.
"I spoke about obviously the people that want to come with me and even in the background, certain players that I know that I can attract, young top players in the country that I can attract to try and get the club back into the Premier League.
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"I've had those sorts of discussions. So nothing's changed really, but I've not had an interview.
"I went to the Leeds-Sunderland game and just watched the team and stuff like that. So that's it."
Caretaker manager Mike Dodds assumed the role of interim Sunderland boss following the sacking of Michael Beale in February after just two months and 12 games at the helm.
The Black Cats sat ninth in the Championship when Tony Mowbray was dismissed in December, but have since slipped to 15th in the table.
Defoe spent three seasons at Sunderland between 2014 and 2017, scoring 37 goals in 93 matches.
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He returned in 2022 for a brief two-month stint, before he announced his retirement.
Defoe, who also played for West Ham, Portsmouth, Tottenham, Bournemouth and Rangers, was a fans' favourite at the Stadium of Light.
And he is taking inspiration from ex-Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley - who recently became Watford boss.
Defoe added: "It makes me want to do it even more because when I look at the news from Tom Cleverley.
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"He was on my player-to-coach course and I see Tom Cleverley getting a Watford job and someone who I played with and a young coach who had one year at Watford and now he's the manager of such a big club.
"So when you see stuff like this and that, you just think, ‘OK then, I'm just still waiting for my opportunity’.
"I've read loads of comments. I know the fans. I think for a lot of people, they look at it and think, ‘Oh, it makes sense because of the relationship’. But I mean, we'll see what happens.
"I'm sure there must be about 10 or 20 managers who would love to have the Sunderland job, do you know what I mean? So it's a massive job.
"So we'll see. I've not had an interview or anything, but I think they're aware that, obviously, I'd be interested in taking a job. Why not?"
As well as helping the club avoid relegation in 2015 and 2016, Defoe struck up a close friendship with Sunderland supporter Bradley Lowery, 6, before his death from cancer.
Brave Bradley's battle with rare childhood cancer neuroblastoma captured the nation's hearts.
Bradley died in July 2017, before Defoe paid tribute to his "best pal".