Sunderland Targets Zola as Manager, Mirror Says: Soccer Roundup

The following is a roundup of soccer stories from U.K. newspapers, with clickable Internet links.

Sunderland Wants Zola

Sunderland is considering hiring Watford’s Gianfranco Zola as its new manager after firing Paolo Di Canio, the Daily Mirror reported.

An emergency board meeting yesterday discussed a group of candidates that also included Roberto Di Matteo and Gustavo Poyet, both of whom are out of work, the newspaper added.

Blackpool’s Paul Ince and Celtic’s Neil Lennon also feature on Sunderland’s shortlist, the Daily Mail reported.

Reluctant Targets

Former Chelsea manager Di Matteo and ex-Brighton coach Poyet have reservations about taking the Sunderland post, the Guardian reported.

Di Matteo is said to be reluctant to accept another managerial position unless it offers an outstanding opportunity, while Poyet is unsure about taking over at a club where Director of Football Roberto De Fanti controls player recruitment, the newspaper added.

Baines’s Raise Delayed

Everton manager Roberto Martinez said a new contract for Leighton Baines has been “put aside” because there’s no rush to agree on a deal before the January trade period, the Daily Mirror reported.

The club plans to offer Baines a 50 percent pay increase to 75,000 pounds ($120,262) a week after he accepted a decision not to trade him to Manchester United, the newspaper added.

World Cup Doubt

Arsenal forward Theo Walcott may miss England’s World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro and Poland next month because of the stomach injury that forced him to withdraw just before the Gunners’ win over Stoke City, the Daily Mail reported.

Walcott, who was set to start in the matches on Oct. 11 and 15, is expected to be out for two weeks following tests on the injury, the newspaper said.