Sunderland 'turn to David Moyes as a replacement for Sam Allardyce'

Reports surfaced on Wednesday suggesting that Allardyce is on the verge of being appointed by the Football Association, which would leave Sunderland without a manager just three weeks prior to the start of the new Premier League season.

But Sunderland are hopeful of bringing in former Manchester United, Everton and Real Sociedad manager Moyes, according to the Independent.

The 53-year-old Scot has been out of work since being sacked as Sociedad manager in November 2015, but Sunderland are hoping that a Premier League return would see Moyes develop them into a regular top-half team – as he did in his decade at Everton.

Allardyce has yet to be confirmed as the successor to Roy Hodgson as England manager, but is said to be in advanced talks over the role.

The reputation of Allardyce's potential replacement at the Stadium of Light has dipped following failures at Manchester United and Sociedad.