The Premier League clubs have long been credited with an interest in Maja and fresh reports in the national press claim they are looking to firm up that interest.

If they were to make a move then that would be good news for Sunderland, who sold Maja last January and included a sell-on clause as part of the deal.

The sell-on clause is understood to be 10 per cent, as previously reported.

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Josh Maja is wanted by West Ham United and Crystal Palace.

Maja scored 16 goals for Sunderland before he left Wearside last January having rejected the chance of a new deal on Wearside.

His exit proved a huge blow for the Black Cats’ automatic promotion hopes with replacement Will Grigg failing to hit the same heights.

Maja hit the headlines again recently with his Sunderland exit a key storyline of the second series of Sunderland 'Til I Die, released on Netflix earlier this month.

Maja’s fine form and subsequent exit took prominence in the early episodes of season two.

Reflecting on his Sunderland exit, Maja told the Echo: “I have ambitions in my career and in my life and this is just a stepping stone for me.

“I want to keep pushing and fans need to understand what players want for themselves.

“Even though that is a bit selfish, it’s a selfish game, isn’t it?