Sunderland have been on the market for over a year, but discussions last summer over a possible £100million move broke down and no further offers have been forthcoming.
Sunderland are one place off the bottom of the Championship, above Burton Albion only on goal difference, and they are staring down the barrel of a second successive relegation. This week, manager Chris Coleman risked the wrath of Short as he criticised him publicly.
"At a club like Sunderland there is incredible passion, and a lot of supporters need people here who care about the club as much as them," he said. "Therein lies a problem; obviously Ellis wants to sell the club and they recognise that maybe his love for the club was maybe yesterday."
Sunderland have had nine managers in the last six years, and currently sit four points adrift of safety. They play Bolton next, another side under threat, in what will be a crucial game for both sides.