Sunderland are now strong contenders to sign an ‘excellent’ free agent who has been playing under Dick Advocaat.
Sunderland will be hoping to have some cash to spend this summer, with Jack Clarke likely to be on his way out.
The Black Cats could make eight figures from his exit, while Jobe Bellingham has also been linked with a £20 million plus move away from the club.
Kryil Louis-Dreyfus will definitely need an influx of cash to drastically improve the squad before next season, having endured their most difficult campaign since his arrival.
However, that doesn’t prevent Sunderland from dipping into the free agent and loan market, having previously enjoyed great success from the likes of Amad Diallo, Alex Pritchard and Danny Batth.
The Wearside outfit could now look abroad to snap up an ‘excellent‘ free agent though, with Pascal Jansen not the only Eredivisie man they have been targeting.
Sunderland targeting former Ajax gem
According to Dutch outlet FCUpdate, Sunderland are interested in signing former Ajax defender Ar’Jany Martha.
The 20-year-old has been released by the Dutch giants, having first joined their academy in 2019.
He mainly featured for Jong Ajax, where he netted nine goals and provided five assists in 110 matches.
He was briefly promoted to the senior squad this season though, racking up 13 appearances in all competitions. He also picked up an assist in his second start in the Europa League, during a 3-1 win over AEK Athens.
Martha failed to make an appearance in their final 12 games though and now finds himself without a club, though it is believed that he was offered fresh terms but preferred a new challenge.
His appearances for Jong Ajax have impressed though, with former Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat calling him up to the Curacao national team back in March.
Martha will look for a change at club level too, with the report claiming that Burnley are also eager to snap him up.
Would Ar’Jany Martha be a good signing?
The youngster’s versatility could prove handy for Sunderland, having primarily played on the right wing in 90 matches. However, he has also played as a left-back, left winger, attacking midfielder and centre forward, though 28 of his 34 appearances this season came on the left side of defence.
The Black Cats certainly don’t need a new left-back in their ranks, with Niall Huggins, Dennis Cirkin, Aji Alese and Leo Hjelde all fighting for a place in the team.
It seems more likely that he will be brought in as an attacker, though whether he can add goals to the team is unclear.
Given that he has played for the biggest club in the Netherlands and is also attracting interest from Burnley, he clearly has a lot of promise.
As a free agent, it seems like a relatively risk-free move, though may not excite fans given their demand for experienced players.
It does seem that they would have to persuade Martha with regular minutes if they are to win the race though, which may be difficult.