Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman is keen to strengthen the fullback position this summer and is eyeing up a player from one of Europe’s most renowned academies.
The Black Cats remain managerless and are seemingly no closer to finding a permanent successor for Michael Beale at the Stadium of Light despite the transfer window opening one week from today. Furthermore, the Sunderland Echo revealed on Thursday afternoon that links to St. Mirren boss Stephen Robinson and Stockport County manager Dave Challinor are unfounded.
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Nevertheless, Speakman is still working behind the scenes to bolster the first-team squad over the summer, with or without a new head coach in charge. Throughout owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus’ proprietorship, the Wearside club have had a policy of signing talented young players with the potential to be sold on for profit, with the likes of Jobe Bellingham and Jack Clarke falling under this category. This recruitment strategy is not set to stop over the coming months.
According to reports in The Netherlands, via the Sunderland Echo, Speakman is keen to secure the signature of 20-year-old left-back Ar’jany Martha this summer and will battle it out with recently relegated side Burnley for the Curacao international’s services. Martha is set to leave Ajax as a free agent at the end of the month, having made 12 appearances in the first-team across the 2023/24 campaign as an academy graduate. Additionally, his market value stands at just over £1 million, as per Transfermarkt.
Furthermore, the reports have suggested that a deal will become more likely for Martha should Pascal Jensen be named as Beale’s successor, having been linked with the vacant job earlier this week. The 51-year-old has been out of work since leaving AZ Alkmaar back in January but will know Martha well from his time coaching in Holland.
Writer’s View
This deal would be perfectly on-brand for Sunderland in the Louis-Dreyfus era. The club have a knack for identifying highly-rated young players who can go into the first-team and perhaps Speakman believes Martha is another player who could slot straight into the squad.
Furthermore, joining the Black Cats could be a lucrative prospect for the fullback, who can also play in more advanced positions. Many youngsters have moved to the Stadium of Light and played regular minutes which could be more appealing to Martha than heading to Turf Moor.
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