Sunderland's Star Player Jack Clarke Targeted by Premier League Clubs for Summer Transfer

Sunderland is aiming to secure the signing of their star player, Jack Clarke, in the upcoming summer transfer window. Clarke has had an impressive season in the Championship, scoring 15 goals and providing four assists in 33 league appearances. He has been a key player for Sunderland, recently scoring against Birmingham. After a challenging period at Tottenham, Clarke is reportedly eager to have another opportunity to play in the Premier League.

However, for Clarke to achieve this, he may need to leave Sunderland if the team fails to secure promotion this season. Currently, Sunderland is in 10th place in the league table, four points away from the playoff spots. According to reports, Southampton, who are vying for automatic promotion, are prepared to make a £15 million bid to entice Clarke to join them on the south coast.

Clarke, who joined Tottenham in 2019 for a fee of around £10 million, struggled to make an impact at the club and did not make a single league appearance in three years. In July 2022, he permanently moved to Sunderland after spending time on loan at QPR, Stoke, Sunderland, and Leeds. Southampton, under the management of Russell Martin, is determined to make an immediate return to the Premier League following their relegation last year. Currently sitting in third place in the Championship table, they are two points behind second-place Ipswich, who hold the final automatic promotion spot with a game in hand.

Aside from Southampton, several other Premier League clubs, including West Ham, Brentford, and Crystal Palace, have shown interest in signing Clarke. Lazio from Serie A has also reportedly registered their interest. It is worth noting that Tottenham has a 25% sell-on clause in Clarke's contract, which could impact the transfer fee. Clarke signed a four-year deal with Sunderland in 2022.