SAM ALLARDYCE remains the strong favourite to be named as England’s next manager despite the Football Association having also discussed the role with Hull City boss Steve Bruce.
Allardyce will return to club duties this evening when he takes charge of Sunderland’s opening pre-season game at Hartlepool United, but his ongoing pursuit of the vacant England job will be the main subject of post-match discussion if he conducts his usual media duties at Victoria Park.
The Sunderland boss was formally interviewed by the FA’s three-man selection panel last week, with his club employers issuing a statement bemoaning the disruption caused by the governing body’s recruitment process.
That disruption has continued in the last seven days – the Black Cats are still to make a single summer signing – but while the FA are still pondering their choice of Roy Hodgson’s successor, the situation could become clearer in the wake of an FA board meeting that is scheduled for tomorrow.
Mindful of the mounting criticism at the time it is taking to appoint a new manager, the FA could opt to make a formal approach to their preferred candidate before the end of the week.
Bruce is the latest person to have outlined their credentials for the job, with the former Sunderland boss having met members of the FA’s recruitment team earlier this week.
A Hull statement said: “The club can confirm that manager Steve Bruce has held informal discussions regarding the England vacancy, although no official approach has been received from the FA.
“We would hope to see the FA conclude their business quickly in order to avoid further speculation regarding Steve ahead of what is a season of huge importance for the club following our return to the Premier League.”
The Hull hierarchy insist the meeting was not a ‘formal interview’, and well-placed sources continue to insist Bruce is an outsider for the England role.
Nevertheless, the fact the 55-year-old held first-person talks confirms the FA are still to make a final decision, with Eddie Howe and Jurgen Klinsmann also still in the running.
Whether either will be formally interviewed remains to be seen, but both Sunderland and Hull will continue to push for a swift resolution in order to enable them to kick off their own managerial search if required.
The current uncertainty is preventing the Black Cats from making transfer inroads with the opening weekend of the Premier League season just three-and-a-half weeks away.
Allardyce’s targets have effectively been put on hold, with Sunderland owner Ellis Short understandably reluctant to spend large fees on players who might find themselves surplus to requirements under a new boss.
Similarly, players who had previously been targeted by Sunderland could be forgiven for being reluctant to move to Wearside while Allardyce’s future hangs in the balance.
The Sunderland boss made a number of approaches for Diafra Sakho earlier in the summer, but was unable to strike a deal for the West Ham striker despite tabling an £11m offer.
Sakho has not travelled to the Hammers’ pre-season training camp in Austria, but West Ham co-owner David Sullivan insists the Senegal international will not be going anywhere until a replacement is secured.
West Ham missed out on Michy Batshuayi when the Belgian opted to join Chelsea, and have also made unsuccessful approaches for Carlos Bacca and Christian Benteke this summer.
“He (Sakho) is not for sale until we get players in,” said Sullivan. “Until we bring strikers in, we simply cannot let strikers go.
“James Tomkins (who left West Ham to join Crystal Palace) was different because we had a surplus in the centre-half department. But until we get at least a couple of strikers, we can’t let any forward go.”
Meanwhile, Aston Villa have become the latest Championship club to express an interest in out-of-favour Sunderland midfielder Liam Bridcutt.
Villa regard Bridcutt as a potential replacement for Carlos Sanchez and Jordan Veretout, who are both expected to leave Villa Park this summer.
Bridcutt, who made a £3.5m move to Sunderland from Brighton in January 2014, spent the majority of last season on loan at Leeds United.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here