Mr Tillerson, 64, emerged as the favouite for the job in the last few days after weeks of speculation which had also involved other potential candidates Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani.

In 2013, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded Mr Tillerson his nation's Order of Friendship.

Mr Trump met Mr Tillerson on Tuesday and was believed to have talked to him again on Saturday.

The president-elect appeared to be in the final days of deliberations over his top diplomat.

Mr Tillerson's favoured status was revealed after Mr Giuliani, the former New York Mayor, withdrew himself from consideration.

A Trump official said Mr Tillerson had moved ahead in his deliberations over Mr Romney, who has met Mr Trump twice, including at a dinner in New York.

Should Mr Tillerson be nominated his business links and relationship with Russia will come under scrutiny.