"Colin Healy is someone I like and someone I have spoken to," McCarthy told Sunderland's official website.
"He would interest me when I'm in a position to get new faces.
"Right now, I can't do that, but I'm encouraged by the reaction I get when I do get on the phone about players.
"Their reaction is what I would expect, that they see Sunderland as a great place to be.
"I'm a realist and I know our situation. If players I would like end up going elsewhere, then they go elsewhere and I'll work with what I've got.
"But I have to move people out before there are slots to bring some in."
Villa, Everton and Leeds have all been linked with Healy.