SUNDERLAND are ready to start the interview process for the vacant manager’s job early next week in the hope they will be close to landing their man by next weekend.

Martin Bain, the club’s chief executive, has come up with a reduced short-list to work to but there have been no formal approaches from the Black Cats to speak with contenders at this stage.

However, that is expected to change over this weekend when Bain is believed to take the search for a new boss to the next stage by lining up interviews for the coming days.

Bain has been keen for a period of reflection since David Moyes’ decision to step down after the Premier League’s season end and went on holiday to consider what path to go down.

He has still been inundated with calls from those interested in the job and he has sought recommendations from people he trusts within the game, like former Rangers manager Walter Smith.

Moyes, who the Sunderland chief has a strong relationship with, has also chatted about the possible contenders to replace him and Bain is close to having a shortlist.

Derek McInnes remains the firm favourite and is believed to be interested in taking on the challenge after impressing at Aberdeen.

But there has still not been an interview with the former Bristol City man, even though Smith is believed to have given him a glowing recommendation.

McInnes also boasts the experience of managing at Championship level and his weekly wage is affordable for Sunderland, although they could have to pay around £1m in compensation to Aberdeen.

Ryan Giggs Preston’s Simon Grayson, former Newcastle manager Alan Pardew, ex-Wolves man Paul Lambert and Barnsley’s Paul Heckingbottom are also in the frame.

Giggs, Pardew and Lambert are free agents so Sunderland wouldn’t need to pay out a compensation fee.

Despite ambitions to bounce straight back and secure promotion, owner Ellis Short is still desperate to reduce costs so there will not be much money available.

The Wearside club had debts in excess of £100m before relegation from the top-flight and this is actually a summer when their ridiculous wage bill – quoted at £90m this week, and ranked as one of the top 25 in the world – will come down.

There are clauses in the majority of the players’ contracts that will see 40 per cent pay cuts, while a number of players are out of contract and set to leave anyway.

Seb Larsson could yet stay, but has offers from Turkey and China too. The 31-year-old has not ruled out staying at Sunderland, but the longer the wait for a new manager goes on the less likely he is to remain.

Larsson’s agent Per Jonsson said: “It is 100 per cent that he does not go to all Swedish now. He is not ready to turn home.

“He is very excited to stay in England and besides bids from there, there are clubs in Turkey and China who have submitted bids. We’ll see what’s going on this summer, but overall it will not happen in a couple of years.”

Larsson missed the start of last season after having surgery on a long-standing knee injury, but still made 21 Premier League appearances, 17 from the start and his six-year stay at Sunderland possibly ended in relegation.

Everton, meanwhile, are considering a move for Gent’s goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic as a cheaper alternative to Jordan Pickford.

The Toffees are being quoted a whopping £30m for Pickford, while Kalinic would be considerably less with suggestions he could be available for £10m.