2JK7NNK The Stadium of Light, Vaux Brewery Way, Sheepfolds, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom
There is a lot of interest in the winger, but the Black Cats must stick to their position.
That should come as no surprise given that he has already surpassed last year’s total with 12 league goals this season and is clearly a key component of the Black Cats’ machine.
The winger has been able to step up to the plate and justify the interest he attracted during the summer, while several of the club’s strikers have struggled to find the scoreboard this season.
Because of the club’s willingness to cash in on several first-team players during the last transfer window, supporters may be concerned that he may be going given his performances this season, which have only served to fuel more rumors regarding his future.
| Sunderland – 2023/24 Departures | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player Name | Signed For | Loan/Permanent |
| Ross Stewart | Southampton | Permanent (fee involved) |
| Leon Dajaku | Hajduk Split | Permanent |
| Bailey Wright | LC Sailors | Permanent |
| Carl Winchester | Shrewsbury Town | Permanent |
| Lynden Gooch | Stoke City | Permanent |
| Isaac Lihadji | Al-Duhail SC | Permanent |
| Danny Batth | Norwich City | Permanent |
| Elliot Embleton | Derby County | Loan |
| Alex Bass | AFC Wimbledon | Loan |
| Joe Anderson | Shrewsbury Town | Loan |
Clarke’s development has been greatly aided by the Black Cats, so if he leaves the Stadium of Light this month, the 23-year-old could be concerned that he won’t be starting every week.
Interested teams in Jack Clarke
According to the Northern Echo, he is being courted by West Ham United, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Everton, and Wolverhampton Wanderers—all of which are Premier League rivals—to sign him.
They also think Southampton and Leicester City, who can both afford to pay a fair amount this month after making a lot of money from player sales in the summer, are interested in their promotion rivals’ star player.
However, it’s unknown if any of these teams would pursue the 23-year-old in the off-season or if they will decide against doing so. The player was previously with Leeds United.
Why Sunderland shouldn’t sell Jack Clarke for less than £20m
With the player still having two and a half years left on his contract, the Black Cats are in a great negotiation position right now.
In light of this and the fact that the team made a sizable profit from the sales of Lynden Gooch, Ross Stewart, and other players, they can most likely afford to keep the former Spur for a minimum of another 12 to 18 months.
He will only get better at age 23, and that should only raise his value.
If they trade him now, it will likely severely harm their chances of being promoted, and it’s not a given that his successor will have the same immediate effect.
Additionally, selling Clarke now could lead to a decline in form that could cost the Black Cats a top-six finish, as they have yet to add a striker this transfer window.
Selling him to a competitor team for promotion, such as the Saints, may be an especially poor choice. On the other hand, allowing him to join the Clarets would also be a bad option, since they might return to the Championship the following season and might have to play Wearside as a result.
The Black Cats would have to have a look at an offer if it was for far more than £20 million, as that amount would enable them to both acquire a successor and sign a talented striker once Stewart leaves.
Nevertheless, the club can’t consider selling him for less than that, so it can’t be an option.
