Aberdeen manager Derek McInneswants to speak to Sunderland about succeeding David Moyes as manager of the Championship club, but is wary of accepting an offer if it comes with severe financial restrictions.

Telegraph Sport understands that Moyes quit last month because he was informed by owner Ellis Short that he would not receive any of the £40m parachute payments from the Premier League after relegation and could not even be guaranteed that he would get all the money from player sales.

That has alarmed McInnes, who is Sunderland’s first choice to replace his fellow Scot after he was recommended to chief executive Martin Bain by former Rangers and Everton manager Walter Smith.

However, it has not ended his interest and, as an ambitious manager who feels he has done as much as he can at Aberdeen after they finished second to runaway leaders Celtic in the SPL, Sunderland are an attractive option.

The 45-year-old is expected to speak to Bain this week and if he is happy with the transfer budget offered at that meeting, he is likely to tell Aberdeen that he would like to leave.