Alex Neil could now reunite with Jonathan Gould as Stoke City chase a deal for the former Preston North End goalkeeping coach.
Neil parted ways with PNE back in 2021 as a poor run of form saw him lose his job.
The Scot returned to management last season with Sunderland, guiding them to promotion from League One.
Sunderland were left stunned though as Neil ended up leaving in the first few weeks of the season by joining Stoke City.
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Neil has endured a mixed opening to his time as Potters boss, winning five and losing seven of his first 15 games – though he did claim a 2-0 win over PNE in October.
Neil will be looking to move Stoke forward in the coming months and he could chase a reunion with a former PNE man.
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The Sun’s Alan Nixon reports that Neil wants to bring goalkeeping coach Jonathan Gould to Stoke.
This shouldn’t be a real surprise given that reports earlier this year suggested that Neil also wanted to take Gould to Sunderland.
Neil worked with Gould at PNE, bringing him back to the club as an experienced goalkeeping coach back in 2019.
Gould joined North End as a player back in 2003, spending two years with PNE after leaving Celtic.
The 54-year-old only spent one year with North End before returning to New Zealand, where he now serves as goalkeeping coach for New Zealand and Napier City Rovers.
The Stoke Sentinel add that Gould has now returned to the UK and Stoke are believed to be closing in on a deal for the former Scotland international.
Neil and Gould finally look set to join forces again and it will be interesting to see whether the duo push to sign former North End goalkeeper Daniel Iversen, as has been rumoured.