:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55269451/RECAP_Rumours.0.png)
It's all very busy in the world of Sunderland right now after three-and-a-half-week hiatus since David Moyes resigned.
All the news is about inbound manager Derek McInnes. Here's a roundup of the latest gossip to start the day.
Florida flight
According to the Scottish Sun, Sunderland chief executive Martin Bain will fly to Florida today to hold talks with top managerial target Derek McInnes.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8690027/462567520.jpg)
The 45-year-old Scot is still on that three-week family holiday. Sunderland were given permission yesterday by Aberdeen to speak with McInnes and Bain hopes to seal the deal by the weekend.
Reports suggest McInnes will be offered a salary of £1m - considerably lower than David Moyes who was supposedly earning three-times that figure at the Stadium of Light, but still treble what he earns at Aberdeen.
The SPL side have already drawn up a short-list to replace McInnes. The Daily Record this morning suggest the Dons have agreed to accept £800,000 from the Black Cats in compensation for their manager.
No stranger to a little bronzing himself, Bain appointing his chosen man in the sunshine state seems oddly apt.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8689945/SAFC_CEO_Martin_Bain.jpg)
'Notoriously unstable club'
The Daily Record suggest McInnes has been 'agonising' over the decision to exit Aberdeen and has been weighing up the pros and cons of a move to Wearside during his holiday in Florida.
The paper describe Sunderland as 'notoriously unstable' which may yet escalate with the club up for sale and rumours of a takeover to happen this summer continuing to surface.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8690021/611732594.jpg)
Add to that a bloated squad which needs severely trimming whilst handling expectation that the Black Cats can launch an immediate promotion campaign, and McInnes will be all to aware of the scale of the task he faces at the Stadium of Light.
Transfer kitty
Both the Sun and the Star have made mention of McInnes being handed a decent sum of money for transfers this summer.
After David Moyes resigned over his fears of not receiving any funds from Sunderland's parachute payments, many have feared the worst for the size of the new man's close season warchest.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8690019/686336752.jpg)
But the papers seem to assume that with Sunderland set to land £30m from the sale of Jordan Pickford, Martin Bain will be able to sweeten the deal for McInnes by reassuring him over the funds he will be able to spend this summer.
The Aberdeen boss is said to have wavered about accepting the Stadium of Light gig with fears over his ability to rebuild the Black Cats' squad effectively in the coming week.
With little having changed since Moyes exited, and the cash from Jordan Pickford no doubt factored into the talks the former boss held with Ellis Short, optimism over the cash to be spend this summer will probably be best served on a wait-and-see basis.
Particularly with Sunderland's recent history over 'assurances' given to new managers who have later complained the job and associated transfer kitty were not as publicised in the brochure.
Jordan Pickford medical
Speaking of the 23-year-old jewel in the crown, widespread reports have claimed Jordan Pickford underwent a medical out in Poland yesterday ahead of his move to Everton.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8690017/693412020.jpg)
The Sunderland goalkeeper is with the England Under-21 squad and the Toffees appear keen to seal the deal for Pickford before the Young Lions open the European Championships on Friday night live on Sky Sports against Sweden.
Gone this week? Looks like it.
Mannone to Atalanta
Speculation will of course now begin on who will replace Jordan Pickford as Sunderland's number one.
But the most obvious figure - Vito Mannone - has been freshly linked with a return to his homeland, Italy.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8690015/630799300.jpg)
Sky Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio last night suggested Serie A side Atalanta are still interested in landing the 29-year-old Black Cats 'keeper.
Mannone has been on Wearside since 2013 and has featured in most of the Sunderland highlights in recent years - including a Wembley cup final - as well as most of the lowlights - endless defeats and shipping eight goals at Southampton probably still keeps him awake at night.
Di Marzio suggests Mannone is wanted as a replacement for Erit Berisha who spent the season on loan at Atalanta from Lazio but is now back in Rome.