COMFIRMED REPORT: After spending the entire previous season on the bench, Sunderland player takes a new turn as La Liga emerges as the front-runner to sign the superstar midfielder.

Pascal Jansen, 51, is in contention to become the next Sunderland manager, with owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus under pressure to find a replacement for

Pascal Jansen is heavily linked with becoming the next Sunderland manager, and he may have his first signing lined up.

Pascal Jansen, 51, is in contention to become the next Sunderland manager, with owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus under pressure to find a replacement for Michael Beale.

.It’s coming up to four months since the Black Cats sacked Beale following a short-lived 12-game tenure at the Stadium of Light.

Dave Challinor and Stephen Robinson were tipped to be two of three final candidates alongside Jansen on Thursday night, though Challinor and Robinson’s links have since been played down.

Jansen then may be in the clear to become the next Sunderland manager, and if he does, he could bring this departing Ajax youngster with him.

• READ MORE: Sunderland manager hopes could now be CRUSHED by former Newcastle United boss

Sunderland eyeing Ar’jany Martha

Sunderland have recently been linked with Ar’jany Martha, who’s leaving Ajax as a free agent this summer.

The 20-year-old attacker is said to have interest from both Sunderland and Burnley ahead of his contract expiry.

And an emerging report from Dutch outlet Voetbal14 has now suggested that Jansen’s potential arrival at Sunderland ‘may accelerate’ Martha’s potential transfer to Wearside this summer.

Born in Rotterdam, Martha made 110 appearances for Jong Ajax, scoring nine goals and assisting five more, with 12 appearances and two assists for the first-team.

• READ MORE: Sunderland can REPEAT Amad Diallo trick at Manchester United if they hire Pascal Jansen

If Jansen arrives at Sunderland this summer, he’ll bring with him a host of contacts which could be great news for sporting director Kristjaan Speakman.

The Netherlands produces a lot of talented youngsters, like Martha, and having an experienced Dutch boss in place could help the Black Cats to tempt them to the Stadium of Light.