Sam Allardyce looks set to be named the new Sunderland manager.
The former West Ham United boss is believed to have opened up talks with the Stadium of Light club and could be in charge for the visit to West Brom on the 17th of October.
Allardyce is widely regarded to be Black Cats chairman Ellis Short’s number one choice to take the reigns following the departure of Dick Advocaat and the American billionaire will dig deep to get his man.
Daily Express Sport reports that Ellis will come up with a package worth a huge £3 million for 60-year-old if he can retain Sunderland’s spot in the top flight.
But Short may also have to splash the cash on new players if he wants to get his side out of the woeful start to the Premier League season that has seen the red and whites draw three and lose five of their opening eight games.
They’re only kept off the bottom spot by neighbours Newcastle United, whose own nightmare opening under Steve McClaren has put them in the basement on goal difference.
So Allardyce will want reassurances that the chequebook will be available to invest in the team.
Former boss Advocaat insisted that the current side ‘simply weren’t good enough’ as he made the decision to walk away after keeping them up last term.
Allardyce, who has also managed at Blackburn, Bolton and Newcastle could also consider tempting trusted number two Neil McDonald back to his native north-east from his current one-year rolling contract as boss at struggling Blackpool.
But with the January transfer window some time off, Allardyce will have to weigh up his options with the current side before committing to the role to ensure that they aren't left adrift in the relegation spots before he can begin rebuilding.
He could make Championship-side QPR's striker Charlie Austin a target to bring some attacking firepower to the shot-shy side that have netted just eight times, while bolstering a leaky defence that has shipped 18 - the most in the Premier League - in their eight opening games will also be a priority for Allardyce.
All of which means that the chairman will have to splash the cash.
