Friday 16 June 2017 07:40, UK
Sunderland chief executive Martin Bain will travel to the USA on Thursday to meet Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes and offer him the vacant manager’s job.
The Dons boss was given permission to speak to the Black Cats after they agreed a compensation package with Aberdeen of close to £1m for the 45-year-old, with his assistant Tony Docherty also expected to join him at the Stadium of Light.
McInnes is currently on holiday with his family in Florida and will discuss personal terms with Bain.
Aberdeen confirmed on Wednesday: "Early this afternoon, Sunderland FC agreed to meet all the contractual obligations for both Derek McInnes and Tony Docherty and they have, reluctantly, been granted permission to speak with both of them about the vacant managerial position at Sunderland."
Sky sources reported on Tuesday that the Black Cats had made a formal approach for the 45-year-old, who led the Dons to a second-place finish in the Scottish Premiership last season.
Sunderland parted company with David Moyes in May after the Scotsman resigned in the wake of their relegation from the Premier League.
