Sunderland have made an approach for permission to speak to Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes about the vacant managerial position at the Stadium of Light.
The English Championship club have been without a manager for more than three weeks following David Moyes’ departure after relegation from the Premier League.
Dons manager McInnes has been strongly linked with the post for the past two weeks and is the bookmakers’ favourite for the job at the Black Cats.
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Sunderland chief executive Martin Bain wants to speak to the Dons manager after being given a glowing recommendation from former Rangers manager Walter Smith about McInnes’ managerial qualities.
Aberdeen directors are due to meet for their monthly board meeting today where the Black Cats’ request will be discussed.
The Dons, who appointed Dave Cormack as a director earlier today, will not part with McInnes easily and Sunderland will have to pay in the region of £1million in compensation for the Aberdeen manager and his assistant Tony Docherty with both men having two years remaining of their current deals at Pittodrie.
The Dons insist nothing has changed but McInnes is due back from a family holiday in Florida this week and Aberdeen will want the matter concluded quickly one way or the other with the Dons players due to report for pre-season training on June 26 ahead of their Europa League qualifying campaign getting underway on July 13.