Reported Sunderland target Thom Haye has confirmed there has been 'a lot of interest' in him this summer - but refused to reveal from which clubs. The Black Cats were linked with a move for the Heerenveen midfielder last month but nothing concrete has materialised as yet.
Dutchman Haye has also seemingly attracted interest from French side Toulouse and Turkish side Besiktas. The 28-year-old still has another 12 months to run on his contract in Holland, meaning any potential suitor would have to pay a fee for him this summer.
Haye has not ruled out seeing out his contract with Heerenveen but also acknowledged the speculation surrounding his future. "That is also something that I said when I came to Heerenveen," Haye told ESPN.
"I know things are going on. Going into names [of potential suitors] doesn't make much sense.
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"There is a lot of interest in the background. It's difficult in terms of price at the moment.
"I look at it calmly. I have the ambition to take the step, but only if it is a good step and everything falls into place."
Haye joined Heerenveen from NAC Breda in January 2022 and is under contract until the end of next season. He is older than many of Sunderland's recent transfer targets but the Black Cats have made it clear that a number of more experienced heads are necessary to provide balance.
Haye was also asked last month about his future, when he said: "I have always said that I can still take a step from Heerenveen. That is my ambition.
"But I am also in the right place here. It is not that I have to leave, but if something comes up that makes me excited, I want to take a step."
