SUNDERLAND are in danger of missing out on top attacking target Diafra Sakho and the uncertainty surrounding Sam Allardyce’s future will not help the situation.

Sakho has been on at the top of Allardyce’s shopping list this summer and the Black Cats have made numerous attempts to persuade West Ham United to sell.

An £11m offer is still on the table for a forward the Hammers rate in the £15m bracket but Slaven Bilic is not willing to sell until he has lined up a replacement.

But the stand-off between the two clubs has led to other interested parties expressing their own admiration for the player, including Tony Pulis at West Bromwich Albion.

Sources close to the Baggies claim they were initially reluctant to test the water because they thought Sakho to Sunderland was a done deal.

However, Allardyce’s interest in the England job has suddenly changed things. West Ham have been approached by a couple of other clubs, including West Brom, to discuss a deal.

The 61-year-old has stayed in the North-East rather than head back to Austria – where the players are until this weekend – to try to work on transfer deals but nothing is imminent.

The Football Association’s three-man selection panel formally interviewed the Sunderland manager on Tuesday about succeeding Roy Hodgson as England boss.

There has been a strongly worded statement to come out of the Stadium of Light calling for the FA to make a swift decision because it is hampering the Premier League club’s own summer plans.

Sunderland owner Ellis Short has discussed possible replacements with Martin Bain, with former Everton and Manchester United boss David Moyes among the alternatives.

For now Allardyce merely remains a leading contender for the England job while the FA consider their options. The panel – consisting of vice chairman David Gill, technical director Dan Ashworth and chief executive Martin Glenn - are expected to chat with Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe and Hull City’s Steve Bruce among others.

The support the Sunderland boss has received from key members of the League Managers’ Association and Sir Alex Ferguson, however, has led to him being regarded as the strong favourite from within the FA.

His former players have queued up to back him for the job, while even Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe suggested he should get it – and combine it with his role on Wearside too next season.

Kevin Davies, the former Bolton striker who led the line under Allardyce for years in the Premier League for the Trotters, said: “I think he has what it takes. He would absolutely jump at the chance.

“He’s very ambitious and that’s been one of his dreams. He was gutted when he missed out on it ten years ago. I know him very well personally so I know how much it would mean to him.

“He’s a very ambitious person and I feel right now he is exactly what the England team need. We’re lacking a bit of leadership, organisation and motivation, and Sam can certainly bring that out of the players.

“Ask any player who has played under him, he motivates you. He knows when to crack the whip and when to dangle a carrot. He’s just a great guy to work for, and I’m sure if you ask any player who has played under him they’d say the same thing.

“I think people underestimate him. He was always ahead of the game. He was always looking that extra one per cent, those marginal gains. You talk about cryotherapy and the beetroot juices, we were doing that ten years ago.

“I think he’d be a real asset to the FA, and not just with managing the team. It’s wide open for Sam to step in and I think he would be a success, there’s no doubt in my mind.”

Sunderland, who have been linked with a move for Paris St Germain full-back Youssouf Sabaly, have tried to sign Tottenham defender DeAndre Yedlin.

The American is keen for a return after a successful loan spell last season but Sunderland have been unable to reach an agreement with Spurs, who have demanded £5m for him.

Yedlin said: “I think it’s awesome that that’s floating around. But I haven’t heard anything on a deal so it’s all kind of up in the air right now. I’m just waiting to hear to see what happens and I’m just trying to enjoy it.”