Black Cats are after McInnes
ROMELU LUKAKU’S agent claims Everton assured the striker he could leave if certain clubs came in for him.
The striker, right, with two years left on his existing contract, has refused a new deal that would make him the highest-paid player in the club’s history.
“Lukaku had a promise that if certain clubs came in he could leave this summer,” said his agent Mino Raiola. SUNDERLAND hope to be given permission to speak to Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes in the next 48 hours.
The Scot, 45, remains Sunderland’s preferred option to succeed David Moyes and lead next season’s Championship promotion bid.
Aberdeen are keen to hold onto McInnes, who led them to a secondplace finish and runners-up in both cup competitions north of the border. But they will not stand in his way if the ex-Bristol City boss tells them he wants to leave. It will then come down to the level of compensation the Dons demand for the former West Brom midfielder – and even with Sunderland’s financial woes that should not prove a stumbling block. McInnes says it will take ‘something special’ for him to leave after more than four years in charge.
But sources close to him say he is intrigued at the prospect of leading the Black Cats back up. Ryan Giggs is not in the frame despite some bookmakers refusing to take further bets on him becoming the next manager. PAUL COOK left Portsmouth to become Wigan’s new manager yesterday, the club where he enjoyed two spells as a player. Cook, left, said: “It’s a superb facility – the stadium has been here for 20 years now but my first recollections of Wigan are from Springfield Park all those years ago. The club has come a long way and my job will be to take us back up the pyramid.” ●WOLVES have confirmed the appointment of former Porto manager Nuno Espirito Santo as their new head coach. He is the club’s fourth manager in 10 months.