Mancini 'offered Sunderland job'

Roberto Mancini claims he has been offered the chance to manage Sunderland.

The 44-year-old former Italy forward was sacked by Inter Milan 12 months ago, despite leading the club to three successive Serie A titles.

He has been out of football since leaving the San Siro club.

Mancini told Sky Italia: "I am honoured to have had an offer from Sunderland Football Club. It is a fantastic opportunity.

"It will be truly wonderful to lead such a prestigious and historic club in England after a year of sitting on the sidelines.

"I feel I am ready to start again with immense enthusiasm."

Mancini appeared to be an outsider, with Steve Bruce emerging as the firm favourite for the Stadium of Light post soon after Ricky Sbragia's resignation seven days ago.

Wigan have confirmed they will not stand in the way of Bruce, their manager, providing Sunderland pay £3m in compensation.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has already given Bruce permission to talk to Sunderland, and said this morning that he expected a decision to be made by the end of today.

Compensation would not be a factor if Sunderland were to appoint Mancini.

Bruce joined Wigan from Birmingham in November 2007, and has been a success at the JJB Stadium.

Whelan told Sportsweek on Radio Five Live: "I paid Birmingham a compensation fee and I think it is only fair they buy his contract out.

"I paid Birmingham £3m and I am asking for the same amount back.

"There are a lot of managers on the market at the moment you can get for nothing. It depends whether Sunderland feel they want to pay £3m. If they want real, real quality managers Steve is up there.

"I said to Steve and to Niall [Quinn, the Sunderland chairman] that if you are going to do a deal, do it quickly. Niall spoke to me and said: 'I understand we can't mess about on this and by Sunday evening we will have a decision for you'."

Mancini has only limited experience of English football, having had a brief playing stint with Leicester in 2001 before going into full-time coaching.

Before joining Leicester he had a spell as player/assistant manager with Lazio, under Sven-Goran Eriksson, and later had spells as manager of Fiorentina and Lazio prior to joining Inter in 2004.