Sunderland 'Til I Die: How Chris Martin snubbed Martin Bain's transfer pursuit revealed in Netflix series

Martin, who is currently on loan at Hull City, was identified as a key target by the club as they sought attacking reinforcements during the last January transfer window.

Chris Coleman was keen to seal a deal for the Derby ace, having lost fellow frontman Lewis Grabban after he returned to Bournemouth in order to facilitate a move to Aston Villa.

Chief executive Martin Bain revealed that a medical had been booked for the striker, before he then decided he wanted the weekend to mull over the move.

Bain was told the news by the player’s agent during a phone conversation, which is featured in full during the documentary.

“I think he would like the weekend to discuss it with his family before coming up,” said Alex Levack, Martin’s agent.

“If he comes up, he wants to come up and that be that. He’s spoken to Chris [Coleman], he doesn’t need to see the training ground, he doesn’t need to see that stadium.

“That’s not him being flippant or blase with that, he’s 29 years of age.

Bain then asks Levack is the striker is still keen on making the move, to which he replies: “He is, he just needs to get his head round it all.

“Just give us the weekend if you don’t mind.”

That delay proved a spanner in the works for Bain, who was keen to secure a striker deal as quickly as possible and already had the wheels in motion on completing the transfer.

“You work all day, all night, you have a medical lined-up for this evening because you think the player is coming,” he said.

“Honestly, trying to get players is just horrendous.”

Martin eventually joined Reading on a loan deal, leaving Sunderland to seal a deadline day swoop for Ashley Fletcher.