Wigan Athletic boss Steve Bruce has reportedly been given permission to talk to Sunderland about their managerial vacancy.
The former Manchester United defender has emerged as the front-runner to succeed Ricky Sbragia at the Stadium of Light after the Scot stepped aside at the weekend following his team's narrow escape from Barclays Premier League relegation.
Reports this morning claimed a compensation package had already been agreed with the Latics, clearing the way for Bruce to discuss personal terms with the Wearsiders.
Sunderland this morning continued to deny that this is the case, although it is understood Wigan could make an official announcement later today.
Bruce was coy when asked about reports linking him with Sunderland last night.
He told Sky Sports News: 'There's always speculation and you cannot stop that. It is flattering.
'But I'm very, very pleased with what's happened with us (Wigan) and I'm quite pleased with what's happening in the future, so we'll see what develops.'
Bruce, a boyhood Newcastle United fan, joined Wigan in November 2007 after Latics owner Dave Whelan agreed a £3 million compensation package with Birmingham City.
He had spent almost six years at St Andrews and had guided Blues back into the top flight just months earlier, but became unsettled when the club's board failed to offer him a new contract amid the ultimately doomed takeover bid led by Carson Yeung.
Bruce arrived at the JJB Stadium with Wigan deep in relegation trouble following six straight league defeats under his predecessor Chris Hutchings.
He managed to spark an impressive upturn in form which saw the Lancashire club finish 14th, and that improvement continued into the 2008-09 season when they were contenders for a place in the Europa League for much of the campaign.
A late run of one win in eight matches, after safety had already been secured, meant they slipped to 11th in the final standings.
That was still five places and nine points ahead of Sunderland, despite Bruce working with a fraction of the budget granted to former Black Cats boss Roy Keane.
And after their flirtation with the Coca-Cola Championship, it appears to have been enough to persuade Sunderland's ambitious owners that Bruce is the man to turn them into a top-flight force.
