STEWART DONALD has confirmed that Uruguayan businessman Juan Sartori is set to become a minority shareholder at Sunderland.

The Black Cats, who paraded new manager Jack Ross in front of the media for the first time yesterday, have been looking for extra investment to strengthen the rebuilding job that is on Donald’s hands.

And, after a meeting in Monaco over the weekend, the former Eastleigh chairman is confident that Sartori is on board to help the club ‘maximise’ its potential.

Sartori is now going through the EFL owners’ and directors’ test before it will be officially confirmed. He is the son-in-law of Monaco’s owner Dmitry Rybolovlev.

And Sartori was part of an unsuccessful attempt to takeover Oxford and that has led to him looking at alternatives, with Sunderland the direction he has taken.

Donald said: “Juan is currently going through the EFL process to join us as a minority shareholder. We had a meeting in Monaco on Sunday and subject to it all dotting the i's and crossing the t's, Juan would love to join us and help us maximise Sunderland’s potential."

He added on BBC Newcastle: “He has had a look at a few other opportunities within football and when this first came along I called him and said ‘it is not for straightaway but would you like this?

“It is going to be a really nice opportunity to have a successful football club, it will be exciting, all the things I would think you would want.’ I went over to see him and he said ‘absolutely’.

“It will mean we can lean on him and he will add value to us ongoing. It is not essential at this stage that he is involved but he will bring so much to Sunderland over a period of time that it is right to get him on board now.

“He is very well connected, bright, astute, a very successful guy. He loves his football. I think he could be a real asset to us moving forward.”

Donald went on to insist that Sunderland are not looking for any other investors to come on board at this time, while he also suggested the club has the finance available to keep its big players if they want to.

Players are expected to leave this summer and any extra money would help Ross’ squad rebuilding ideas, with the likes of Jack Rodwell and Lee Cattermole on massive wage deals for League One.