David Moyes to replace Sam Allardyce as Sunderland manager

• Moyes’ appointment to be announced after Allardyce’s exit confirmed
  • Former Everton manager was sacked by Real Sociedad in November 

David Moyes is to replace Sam Allardyce at Sunderland, with his appointment expected swiftly once the outgoing manager’s role in charge of England is confirmed.

Talks between Moyes and Ellis Short, Sunderland’s owner, and Martin Bain, the club’s chief executive, are understood to have reached an advanced stage. The former Preston, Everton, Manchester United and Real Sociedad manager, long admired by Short, was approached soon after Allardyce was interviewed by the Football Association last week.

The 53-year-old has been out of work since his sacking by Sociedad in November and is anxious to return to the Premier League. Providing there are no last-minute hitches, Moyes will join a club playing catch-up following a period spent in transfer market limbo while Allardyce’s future was determined.

Despite only narrowly avoiding relegation in May, Sunderland have not made a signing this summer – although a deal to activate a £5m release clause in the Aston Villa defender Micah Richards’ contract was agreed in principle this week.

Allardyce had become frustrated in recent weeks, particularly after Short informed him the transfer budget would be around 50% less than the manager had hoped for as he worked on ambitious plans to strengthen the team.

Moyes – poised to become the seventh manager in five years at a club scarred by repeated struggles against relegation – will have to try to persuade Short to speculate to accumulate with the squad in desperate need of a right-back and a striker to partner Jermain Defoe.

It remains to be seen whether they will continue to attempt to buy Yann M’Vila – the former France midfielder who impressed last season while on loan from Rubin Kazan.