Blow for Sunderland with Chris Wilder 'set to sign' new Sheffield United deal

The Blades boss has been the frontrunner for the job at the Stadium of Light since Chris Coleman was sacked ahead of Stewart Donald's takeover plans being announced.

Sunderland won't be appointing a new manager until the takeover has been ratified by the EFL, with a decision expected soon.

Donald is due to meet EFL chiefs in London today as his takeover edges ever nearer but any hope of luring Wilder to Wearside have been dealt a blow.

Follow our live Sunderland AFC blog here:Sky Sports news are reporting Wilder is set to sign an improved extended contract at Bramall Lane , a move designed to ward off interest from Sunderland's prospective new owners.

They report Wilder along with Alan Knill and the rest of his backroom staff, have agreed to remain at Bramall Lane for a third season, despite the ongoing uncertainty around the ownership of the Championship club.

United's co-owners Kevin McCabe and HRH Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud met in London this week in a bid to resolve the ongoing row.

Sky Sports report they agreed to fund Wilder's new deal while there was also discussions over a summer transfer budget.

Follow our live Sunderland AFC blog here:Meanwhile, ex-Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy, who had been linked with the job at the Stadium of Light, says he wants to manage in the top two divisions.

Sunderland were last season relegated to League One for only the second time in the club's history.

McCarthy, out of work after leaving Ipswich Town, has been speaking to the Daily Mail about his desire to get back into management.

He said: "I want to work in the Championship or the Premier League.

"If I could get a Championship job with a chance of getting in the Premier League, that would be great. What gives me inspiration is Roy Hodgson going in at Palace, Warny (Neil Warnock) at Cardiff. Get them organised, hard to beat, know what they are doing. Play good football. Win. I put myself in that bracket."

Read the full, in-depth Daily Mail interview with McCarthy here: