The 30-year-old has endured a frustrating season at Villa Park, with the club sitting 15th in the Premier League table.
Black Cats boss Martin O'Neill is understood to be keen admirer of the England international, according to The Sun, and could launch a £2.5m bid in the summer.
Warnock has two England caps to his name.
Restore Data
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | |
| 1 | Manchester CityMan City | 32 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 76 | 32 | 44 | 73 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 32 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 75 | 26 | 49 | 71 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 32 | 21 | 8 | 3 | 72 | 31 | 41 | 71 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 33 | 19 | 6 | 8 | 68 | 49 | 19 | 63 |
| 5 | Tottenham HotspurSpurs | 32 | 18 | 6 | 8 | 65 | 49 | 16 | 60 |
| 6 | Newcastle UnitedNewcastle | 32 | 15 | 5 | 12 | 69 | 52 | 17 | 50 |
| 7 | Manchester UnitedMan Utd | 32 | 15 | 5 | 12 | 47 | 48 | -1 | 50 |
| 8 | West Ham UnitedWest Ham | 33 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 52 | 58 | -6 | 48 |
| 9 | Chelsea | 31 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 61 | 52 | 9 | 47 |
| 10 | Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton | 32 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 52 | 50 | 2 | 44 |
| 11 | Wolverhampton WanderersWolves | 32 | 12 | 7 | 13 | 46 | 51 | -5 | 43 |
| 12 | Fulham | 33 | 12 | 6 | 15 | 49 | 51 | -2 | 42 |
| 13 | Bournemouth | 32 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 47 | 57 | -10 | 42 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 32 | 8 | 9 | 15 | 37 | 54 | -17 | 33 |
| 15 | Brentford | 33 | 8 | 8 | 17 | 47 | 58 | -11 | 32 |
| 16 | Everton | 32 | 9 | 8 | 15 | 32 | 48 | -16 | 27 |
| 17 | Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest | 33 | 7 | 9 | 17 | 42 | 58 | -16 | 26 |
| 18 | Luton TownLuton | 33 | 6 | 7 | 20 | 46 | 70 | -24 | 25 |
| 19 | Burnley | 33 | 4 | 8 | 21 | 33 | 68 | -35 | 20 |
| 20 | Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd | 32 | 3 | 7 | 22 | 30 | 84 | -54 | 16 |
| > Premier League Full Table | |||||||||
