Sunderland Face Challenge To Keep Hold Of Star As Premier League Interest Emerges

Premier League side Brentford are pushing for a deal for Sunderland winger Jack Clarke, as reported by Alan Nixon via his Patreon.

There has been a real buzz around Clarke at the Stadium of Light since his permanent switch from Tottenham Hotspur. Many Premier League clubs have been linked with a move for the winger, who has been a hot topic for his form in the second division.

The 22-year-old has made 15 appearances for the Black Cats this season, scoring nine goals in that run. The club are trying to tie Clarke down to a new contract with a significant rise, but there is an impasse between both parties. 

It is understood that any sale of Clarke would involve a sell-on clause if Sunderland were to get their way. Tottenham are reportedly already due a similar clause, which is not known the exact amount. Tony Mowbray’s side is holding out for £20 million, with clubs offering around £15 million and unwilling to move up to that 20 million mark up to this point.

Mowbray singled Clarke out for praise recently after the winger’s blistering start to the campaign, claiming he believes the star can add even more to his game and improve further. The Sunderland boss even encouraged Clarke to study tapes of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry to develop further and become the star he believes he could be.

Writer’s View

Sunderland may struggle to keep hold of Clarke, especially if they are not able to earn promotion to the Premier League. With so many clubs monitoring the young Englishman, he will be aware of the interest, and that could be the reason for the impasse in contract talks. He mustn’t let this distract him from playing his game. While he earned a Premier League move before to Tottenham, he never made the cut there. The next move he takes could be one that makes or breaks his career.