Gus Poyet tipped for shock return after turning down Sunderland job

The Owls are looking for their third manager this season after sacking Tony Pulis just 45 days after he replaced Garry Monk in the Hillsborough hotseat.

Poyet has been out of work for two years since leaving Bordeaux, but is the frontrunner with bookies ahead of the likes of former Wednesday favourites Nigel Pearson and Ryan Lowe, and ex-Championship duoPaul Cook and Danny Cowley, the latter of who held talks with the Sunderland hierarchy after Phil Parkinson was sacked last month.

Poyet, however, is the clear frontrunner at the moment. The former Chelsea star is also understood to have held talks with his former club Sunderland last month, before deciding he didn't want to return to the Stadium of Light while they were a League One club.

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However, Wednesday themselves are in real danger of sliding into League One. They sit second-bottom of the Championship table, having also been docked six points this season by the EFL after being found guilty of financial irregularities. and will need to appoint a manager quickly if they are to make the most of the January transfer window.

Poyet is a manager who likes control over transfers, which may prove a stumbling block to landing at Hillsborough. Pulis is believed to have fallen out with owner Dejphon Chansiri over transfers and budgets, as well as picking up just seven points from 10 games since replacing Garry Monk.