Roy Keane was tight-lipped after being put on the spot to discuss his links with the Sunderland job on live television.
The Manchester United legend has been heavily linked with taking the vacant managerial position at the Stadium of Light, having achieved promotion with the Blackcats in 2007.
Keane was a pundit for United's FA Cup fourth-round tie against Middlesbrough on Friday and ITV presenter Mark Pougatch kicked off the show by asking the Irishman about the recent negotiations.
"I've got no control over that, no comment," Keane stated. "I've made [it] clear, I'd like to get back as a manager.
"But the club has to want you, you've got to want that job, the contract has to be right. We'll see how things take shape over the next couple of days."
Join the debate! Would Keane be a good appointment for Sunderland? Comment your thoughts below.
![](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article25892771.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/1_GettyImages-1236126350.jpg)
The 50-year-old was reportedly interviewed by a Sunderland delegation in Manchester, with the north-east side having sacked Lee Johnson in the wake of last Saturday's 6-0 loss away to Bolton Wanderers.
The Blackcats are third in the League One table, occupying the top play-off position and only five points adrift of leaders Rotherham with a game in hand on the Yorkshire side.
But Sunderland now want Keane to guide them to automatic promotion, as he did 15 years ago on Wearside.
But the Republic of Ireland icon has been out of the dugout since being sacked by Ipswich Town in 2011.
Keane then worked for Ireland, Aston Villa and ex-club Nottingham Forest as an assistant, all while maintaining his desire to get back into management.
"I've got good memories from Sunderland, a really good club," Keane told Sky Sports. "It's a pity that ended the way it did in terms of me having a big disagreement with the owner, but I had good days at Sunderland, a really good club."
And appearing on The Overlap, Keane told former United teammate Gary Neville : "I've had interviews, I had an interview recently.
"I spoke to a Championship club about three months ago. It was very casual, it was at my house, a chat with the chairman. "And to be fair, he was straight up, he went, 'Listen, we just want somebody who can come in and win football matches'.
"That was fine with me, I didn’t have to break down styles of play."
"And I think if you’re winning matches, people don’t then question, 'What's your style of play?' You just bounce into the next match, don't you? And we did it as players."
While Keane refrained from naming the club, it appears the Blackcats are the latest to enquire about his services.