Sunderland have held talks with Lee Johnson's trusted lieutenant Jamie McAllister with a view to reuniting the pair on Wearside, SunderlandLive understands.
But McAllister has a decision to make because he has also been offered the vacant manager's job at National League North leaders Gloucester City.
Johnson was confirmed as the Black Cats' new head coach on Saturday lunchtime, overseeing the defeat against Wigan Athletic at the Stadium of Light just hours later.
And he hinted afterwards that he is looking to bring in at least one member of staff to support him.
McAllister was Johnson's assistant manager for three years at Bristol City and a reunion at Sunderland is a major draw, but it would also involve relocating to the North East.
McAllister and Johnson were teammates at Bristol City for five-and-a-half years between 2006 and 2012, and when Johnson took over as manager at Ashton Gate in 2016 he installed McAllister as U21 coach and subsequently promoted him to his assistant in March 2017.
Johnson succeeds Phil Parkinson, who was sacked as manager last Sunday.
Parkinson's assistant Steve Parkin also departed, leaving first-team coach Andrew Taylor in temporary charge against Burton Albion in midweek.
Taylor was in the dugout alongside Johnson against Wigan, but the new boss may decide to shake up the coaching staff he has inherited.
Soon after Parkinson was appointed in October last year, he brought in his own long-time backroom team of goalkeeping coach Lee Butler, physical performance coach Nick Allamby, and he also added Taylor who had played under him at Bolton Wanderers.
