Sunderland are set to retain manager Regis le Bris despite the club sitting bottom of the Premier League with only one win from their first nine matches.
The 50-year-old Frenchman came under increased pressure after Saturday's defeat at Coventry City, but club sources have told BBC Sport they believe he can turn results around.
Upcoming fixtures
Sunderland face Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League at the Stadium of Light on Thursday before hosting Chelsea in the league on Sunday ahead of the international break.
Background
Le Bris joined Sunderland from Lorient in June 2024 and guided the club to promotion from the Championship in his first season. Last term he led the Black Cats to a seventh-placed finish, securing European qualification for the first time in 53 years. The team have won two and drawn one of their Europa League league-phase matches so far.
Analysis: Defensive decline and wasteful finishing
BBC Sport journalist Tom McCoy notes that Sunderland were among the Premier League's biggest overperformers last season, conceding six fewer goals than their expected goals against (xGA) suggested. They restricted opponents to low-quality chances, with the second-lowest average xG per shot faced and a save percentage of nearly 72%.
This season the picture has reversed. The side now allow the second-highest xG per shot faced, while goalkeeper Robin Roefs has a league-worst 50% save rate. At the other end, Sunderland rank 10th for expected goals (xG) but have scored six fewer than expected, making them one of the division's most wasteful finishers.
The club risks following the path of Ipswich Town, who were relegated the season after achieving promotion via the play-offs and qualifying for Europe in 2001.
