Sunderland AFC news: Allardyce for England latest, inside track on Giaccherini's Wearside spell, Pickford target

England's pursuit of Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce is set to drag into next week.
Sunderland keeper Jordan PickfordSunderland keeper Jordan Pickford
Sunderland keeper Jordan Pickford

The frustrating waiting game to end the uncertainty over Allardyce’s future continues, with the FA still holding talks with potential candidates over the England job, amidst speculation yesterday that USA boss Jurgen Klinsmann is next in line to be interviewed for the role.

We revealed today that Sunderland are eager to keep the foundations laid down by Sam Allardyce in place, IF the Black Cats boss is appointed England manager.

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Sunderland are hopeful that the situation will be resolved by the end of next week, with chairman Ellis Short furious at the timing of the FA’s approach after the Black Cats were determined to fulfil the long-cherished hope of a stable future.

For the latest Sunderland AFC news follow our live blog:Meanwhile, Sunderland reporter Chris Young has taken an in-depth look at why Emanuele Giaccherini was the right man at the wrong time for the Black Cats in today's Echo.

Giaccherini is on the verge of finalising a £1.2m move to Napoli on a three-year deal.

Chris wrote: "The Italian’s 5ft 6in frame was not an insurmountable obstacle – the likes of David Silva and Sergio Aguero continue to prove that – yet he neither had the searing speed or jaw-dropping trickery to compensate for that slight build.

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"In the power and pace environment of the Premier League, it left him facing an uphill battle."And finally, Jordan Pickford has been speaking about his target this pre-season ahead of the first of six friendly matches.

The Washington-born stopper said: "All the sessions we’ve had so far in Austria have been good and each of them have been different.

"This morning with Tucks we were working on our sharpness and getting back in the swing of things after not playing any games for a few weeks.

“We’re doing a lot of power work, jumping and working with different members of the backroom team – Mike Clegg and David Binningsley – to help with our overall fitness.

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"I’m hoping to get some game time during pre-season. I’m just going to keep my head down and get stuck in and then if I’m ever called-upon I’ll take my chance to impress.

"We’ve got six games across pre-season, hopefully out of those I’ll get a few chances to play.

"That’ll be good for me and it’s what I’d like to take from pre-season, it definitely helped me last year."