According to a report in the English press today, the Socceroos custodian is seen as the man to help keep the Black Cats in the top flight.

Sunderland struggled badly during their last spell in the Premiership and the club will need to tighten up at the back in order to avoid the same fate.

Schwarzer has already seen former teammate Mark Viduka make the switch to a North East rival, the striker having signed for Sunderland’s bitter rival Newcastle United, and it remains to be seen whether Schwarzer would be tempted to link up with Keane’s outfit.

The goalkeeper has yet to agree a fresh deal with his current club, having just returned from his country’s Asian Cup campaign.

Schwarzer is thought to be unhappy at the way Viduka was allowed to leave the Riverside (his contract had expired) and at the time he told BBC Sport: “I’ve taken it to be quite normal at Middlesbrough they do leave things very, very late.

“They tend to do things only when they’re under pressure.”

Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb’s rather cool response read: “Talks are ongoing but we do not and will not conduct our negotiations through the media.”