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Sunderland AFC’s Jack Clarke has been subject to a great deal of transfer speculation so far this year after a stellar 2023-24 season.
Last campaign he was able to notch 15 goals for the Black Cats, proving a real menace to defences as he cut inside from the left wing.
Having signed the winger from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2022 for a nominal fee, it seems that the 23-year-old is destined for a Premier League return and the Sunderland hierarchy must do everything in their power to sell him for a high price.
With his agent believing a new contract won’t be signed by Clarke, top-tier sides would have been alerted and Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace have both been linked with a move. Elsewhere, Julian Lopetegui’s West Ham United are keen and recently promoted Southampton would like to see him swap the North East for the South Coast, even if the price tag is heavy.
Southampton are baulking around Clarke’s asking price
Russell Martin’s Southampton would of course be an enticing opportunity for Clarke, who surely believes he is ready for a shot at Premier League football. But an issue over any potential deal is that the Saints are unwilling to match the Black Cats’ £18 million valuation.
Some will argue that this is a hefty price for a player who hasn’t played a minute in the top division, but his past two seasons have displayed that he has the rare gift of being a creator as well as a finisher.
| Jack Clarke’s permanent spell at Sunderland so far (All competitions) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 2022/23 | 50 | 11 | 14 |
| 2023/24 | 42 | 15 | 4 |
| Source: FotMob | |||
With this in mind, if any bids arrive from the Saints under this valuation, then the Wearside club should hold firm for what they believe Clarke is worth. His price tag should not only reflect what he could bring to Martin’s side, but it should take into account what he could provide for Sunderland again next season.
If they were to lose him, replacing his 44-goal contributions from the past two seasons would be a daunting task and would cost a bomb for a team that doesn’t have unlimited money.
In hindsight, this seems like a bit of a scaremongering tactic from Southampton in a bid to see whether Sunderland would be willing to drop the asking price of their best player.
Further bids will arrive for Clarke
With a further two years on his contract, Sunderland are still in a position of strength regarding any potential sale of the forward. The priority will be to keep Clarke, of course, but if he wants to leave then they should grant his request, whilst still demanding £18 million.
If Southampton aren’t willing to meet this, then the heavy interest from elsewhere would suggest that a different side would be willing to.
Financially, the Saints are probably not in as strong a position as the likes of Crystal Palace or West Ham, who have both shown their willingness to spend money in recent years.
However, if no club arrives with sufficient money, then Sunderland will be able to retain Clarke and can look forward to another season of him tearing it up in the Championship.
Time will tell as to whether they hold out for £18 million, but it would be advisable given the level of ability their star player has shown over the previous two campaigns.
