During the summer transfer window, the Black Cats will demand £20 million for their finest player.
According to sources, Sunderland will demand £20 million for star winger Jack Clarke during the summer transfer season.
With 15 goals and four assists in the Championship this season, the former Leeds United and Tottenham player has been in incredible form.
Clarke was the target of intense transfer interest during the summer and winter windows. Burnley had bids turned down, and on deadline day last month, Lazio, a Serie A club, had two bids turned down. Clarke has also been linked to Crystal Palace, Brentford, and West Ham.
But according to a Football Insider story, Sunderland will only ask £20 million for Clarke’s sale this summer. In July 2022, the Black Cats paid Tottenham between £750k and £800k for the forward. However, if Sunderland sells Clarke, Spurs will still owe 25%.
By the time summer arrives, the 23-year-old will still have two years left on his current contract, which puts Sunderland in a strong position to demand a respectable fee. Though he has aspirations to rejoin the Premier League, Clarke is reportedly content at the Academy of Light.
Contract negotiations between Sunderland and Clarke’s team are reportedly at a standstill, and unless the Wearsiders receive an unexpected promotion to the Premier League under Mike Dodds, the midfielder is expected to be sold this summer.
Dodds is optimistic that Clarke will be ready to play this weekend against Norwich City despite the fact that the top player for Sunderland missed last Saturday’s Championship matchup defeat to Swansea City due to an ankle ailment.
When asked if it was still the intention to reevaluate Clarke’s injury on Monday after the Swansea City game, Dodds responded, “That’s what I’m being told.” “He is eager to get going.
He’s a strong young man. He hasn’t really missed much football since entering. We assumed he would be available because he never skips training, but for some reason that hasn’t occurred.”
Dodds continued, saying, “I refuse to accept Jack’s injury as an explanation. Not only is Jack an excellent player for us, but he’s arguably the best wide player in the entire league. You will never be able to replace Jack Clarke because we are discussing one of the best players in the league. However, I will say one thing, and I think this is incredibly important: Jack Clarke was not the same person when he joined the football team. That is, in my opinion, a crucial message.
“We need to ensure that Romaine [Mundle], Abdoullah [Ba], and Naz [Rusyn] understand that message very well. I understand that the supporters may be irritated, and I wish I could go back in time, but Jack Clarke wasn’t the same guy when he first joined the team. That’s a really essential message that people should grasp, not just because they’re football fans and want to win games, but also because, in my opinion, we need to make sure we collaborate with the other players in order to produce another Jack Clarke.”
The Black Cats are currently eight points out of the play-offs and will play their next Championship match this weekend at Carrow Road against Norwich City.