Having come close to landing the managerial jobs at former club Rangers and another ex-team, Millwall, Muscat now finds himself in a field with with likes of Will Still (Reims) and Julian Sable (Nice assistant) in what might be a case of third time lucky.

The Black Cats, according to reports emanating out of England’s north-east, are seriously considering enlisting Muscat, 50, to replace Tony Mowbray, who was sacked on Wednesday, whilst news outlets in Japan claim Celtic assistant Harry Kewell could be heading the other way to replace Muscat at Marinos.

Though a credible shot for the Wearside job, it’s also possible Muscat could remain in Japan where both Urawa Red Diamonds, who finished fourth in J1, and Kashima Antlers, fifth, are in the market for new coaches and are well aware of his qualities.

Muscat, who won the J1 title with Marinos last season after succeeding Ange Postecoglou at the helm, was also recently associated with Gamba Osaka who narrowly escaped the drop this season.

He announced his was exiting Marinos 24 hours after Mowbray was shown the Sunderland door, with the team he led for 15 months sitting ninth in the Championship, just three points outside the playoff places.

Sources have confirmed Muscat has “an opportunity on the table” and an announcement is imminent.

After a brief, ill-fated stint in Belgium at Sint-Truiden, the former Melbourne Victory coach has never made a secret of his desire to return to Europe - where mentor Postecoglou is already well established - to prove he has the acumen and knowledge to succeed at a club with ambition in one of the continent’s stronger leagues.

Sunderland, already home to Olyroos defender Nectar Triantis, will have taken note. 

Muscat was appointed manager of Marinos in July 2021, winning the J1 League title in 2022, then the Japanese Super Cup this year.

But Yokohama fell seven point shorts of the league title this season.

Meanwhile, Japanese media outlet Sponichi claims Kewell, part of Brendan Rodgers’ coaching staff at since 2022, has been earmarked as the club’s third successive Aussie coach.

A switch to Marinos would be Kewell’s first senior head coaching role since 2021, when he was a short spell at National League outfit Barnet.