Should Sunderland wish to appoint Steve Bruce as manager, they will have to cough up at least the £3 million that the Latics paid Birmingham.
Whelan said: "I paid Birmingham a compensation fee and I think it is only fair that they [Sunderland] buy his contract out. I paid Birmingham £3 million and I am asking for the same amount back."There are a lot of managers on the market at the moment you can get for nothing. It depends whether Sunderland feel they want to pay £3 million. If they want real, real quality managers, Steve is up there.
"I said to Steve and to [Sunderland chairman] Niall Quinn that if you are going to do a deal, do it quickly."
Quinn also commented that a decision would have been made by Sunday evening, however that deadline has passed without comment from the Black Cats.
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