THE German consortium looking to take ownership of Sunderland is pushing to get a deal tied up early next week, when the players will be preparing for a return to pre-season training.

And it is understood the group has its own ideas on who to target to become the Black Cats’ new manager, and the club’s potential new owners will look to appoint someone they know from their homeland.

The development has arrived at the same time as Union Berlin’s head coach Jens Keller has seen the odds tumble on him becoming Sunderland’s next manager.

Martin Bain, the Wearside outfit’s chief executive, is believed to have favoured a move for Derek McInnes (who has opted to stay with Aberdeen) or Preston’s Simon Grayson during the last few weeks.

Now that the takeover bid from Germany appears to be entering a critical stage it has emerged David Moyes’ successor is likely to come from that country – provided the deal goes through.

The Northern Echo has learned the talks are at such an advanced stage that more details about the situation, at the very least, could materialise before Sunderland’s players start pre-season training on Thursday.

While still at a delicate stage, there is more confidence from both sides that a deal will go through. Nothing, though, should be taken for granted because things could soon take a turn for the worse.

Short is believed to have agreed to sell for an initial £85m and that figure would rise beyond the £100m barrier if promotion back to the Premier League is secured.

Sealing a return to the top-flight is the priority next season and Sunderland have already lost ground on their rivals; during a period when there has been no manager and uncertainty hanging over the ownership of the club.

Bain is looking at a transfer policy that will see Sunderland look at players in Germany, regardless of whether Short’s wish to sell is fulfilled in the next week. He knows, though, time is running out and needs the deal to be done swiftly.

The German consortium would be happy to go down the route of targeting players from the Bundesliga 2, a division which saw Union Berlin finish fourth last season under Keller. He is now the third favourite with the bookmakers.

The 46-year-old, a former player with Stuttgart and Schalke among others, will be aware of the best players at that level and knows those who are capable of making the switch to English football.

Such a move was successfully made by Huddersfield boss David Wagner, who attracted a number of players from that level to West Yorkshire to help inspire them to promotion to the Premier League.

Sunderland are looking to replace a number of players in the squad already, including offloading Fabio Borini.

The Italian striker is reported to have had talks with AC Milan in Italy after being told he can leave if a deal can be thrashed out.

Sunderland have not received a formal offer for the player they are likely to sell for around £6m, but he has set his heart on a move and returning to Serie A appeals to him according to his agent Roberto de Fanti.

And the next Sunderland manager will not be working with Victor Anichebe. The Nigerian striker has joined Beijing Enterprises in the Chinese second tier.

He was not included on Sunderland’s retained list and his short contract expires at the end of this month. He scored three goals in 19 appearances but injuries prevented him from enjoying a bigger impact after signing in September.