Chris Coleman was verbally offered a three-year contract as Real Sociedad coach last night. The Welshman has held talks with the Basque club over the past 24 hours, but a number of things need to be ironed out before he is willing to accept the vacancy.

Coleman is understood to be keen to benefit from a change of lifestyle after leaving Fulham towards the end of last season, but he wants assurances about what budget and players will be available to him in Spain before he commits to an answer today. Sociedad were relegated from La Liga for the first time in 40 years on the final day of last season, when the club dismissed Miguel Án-gel Lotina as coach.

Coleman also wants to be sure that there is enough time to integrate his ideas. Sociedad are scheduled to return to preseason training on July 16. Further talks were taking place last night between Alan Smith, the former Crystal Palace manager and now adviser to Coleman, and Sociedad in San Sebastián.

John Toshack recommended Coleman for the post. The Wales manager, who has managed Sociedad on three occasions, turned down a role as sporting director. Toshack, who has a house in San Sebastián, accompanied Coleman on his tour of the club’s facilities yesterday and Coleman is said to be impressed by the training ground and stadium. Should Coleman take the post, he is likely to want Steve Kean, his former assistant at Fulham who speaks Spanish, alongside him on the coaching staff.

Coleman has been linked with several vacancies since he was dismissed from Craven Cottage when the club were under the threat of relegation. On a limited budget, many people felt that Coleman had done a good job in keeping the team in the top flight over the previous four years.