Former Arsenal, Fulham and West Ham United midfielder Luis Boa Morte spent last week at the Academy of Light making up part of Sunderland’s coaching staff.
The 40-year old - who retired from playing after a spell with Chesterfield in 2013 - has previously spent time as part of the backroom staff at Fulham, Sporting Lisbon and Arsenal, and most recently spent time in charge of lower league Sintrense in his home country.
An ex-team mate of Sunderland manager Chris Coleman, Boa Morte spent time working with the Welshman and his coaching staff with a view to joining them permanently at the end of the season.
Luis Boa Morte in the box behind the South West Corner. He’s been coaching at the AOL this week pic.twitter.com/5mjnQ3c71a
— Roker Report (@RokerReport) February 24, 2018
The likelihood of such a deal occurring depends upon Sunderland staying up - when, presumably, Coleman will be given more room to manoeuvre when it comes to bringing in his own people as part of his coaching staff.
Boa Morte took in Saturday’s 3-3 draw from a corporate hospitality box situated just above the South West Corner alongside Chris Coleman’s son, Sonny, and his wife Charlotte.
The former wide-man - who picked up 28 caps for his country during his playing days - was seen at a talk in featuring Lee Clark at a local venue on Friday evening, and was believed to have been staying at the Hilton Gardens hotel opposite the Stadium of Light.