DICK ADVOCAAT is hoping to raid his former employers in order to make Sunderland winger Jeremain Lens his first signing as head coach of Turkish side Fenerbahce.

Having quit his position as the assistant manager of the Dutch national team on Monday, Advocaat, who resigned from his position as Sunderland boss last October, is set to be confirmed as Fenerbahce’s new boss later today.

The 68-year-old will succeed Vitor Pereira in Istanbul, and has already submitted a list of potential transfer targets to Fenerbahce officials.

Lens is understood to feature highly on that list, with Advocaat having persuaded Sunderland officials to splash out around £12m in order to sign the winger last summer.

Since then, Lens has struggled to hold down a place in Sunderland’s starting line-up, first under Sam Allardyce and now under the Black Cats’ current boss, David Moyes.

Lens made just seven Premier League starts under Allardyce last season, and was an unused substitute as Sunderland lost their opening game of the current campaign at Manchester City last weekend.

Moyes is willing to sell him in the final two months of the transfer window, but it remains to be seen how much of a financial loss Sunderland are willing to sustain in order to move on the Dutchman.

Fenerbahce are likely to push for a season-long loan deal initially, but the Black Cats will be extremely reluctant to pay any of Lens’ wages if he leaves Wearside on a temporary basis.

One player’s departure from the Stadium of Light was confirmed yesterday, with Liam Bridcutt signing a two-year deal with Leeds United.

After weeks of negotiations, Sunderland and Leeds finally came to a financial agreement that effectively resulted in the cancellation of the final year of Bridcutt’s previous contract in the North-East.

Bridcutt spent the majority of last season on loan at Elland Road, and leaves Sunderland having made 36 senior appearances following a £4m switch from Brighton in January 2014.

“I’m very pleased to have Liam on board,” said Leeds boss Garry Monk. “When I first came into the club, I analysed all the games from last season and Liam contributed really well.

“I’m very happy to get the deal done. Liam brings a wealth of experience, a good level of quality to the group and something that we need.

“He has that bit of leadership and personality that will help the group. I’m very pleased to have him through the door – I know what he’s capable of.”

Sunderland continue to target additions of their own, with Swedish defender Filip Helander having become the latest player to be linked with a possible move to Wearside.

The 23-year-old centre-half impressed while on loan at Italian side Hellas Verona last season, and has outlined his desire to complete a move to the Premier League.

“It is clear that the Premier League is interesting,” said Helander. “For me, it has always been a childhood dream, but I’ll see. There are still a little more than two weeks left in the transfer window, so a lot can still happen.”