Carlton Palmer believes Sunderland will listen to offers in excess of £15 million for Jack Clarke this summer, as Southampton interest grows.
There is a sense of inevitableness about Jack Clarke’s future at Sunderland, and Carlton Palmer thinks Southampton will be able to recruit him this summer for a fee of between £15 and £20 million.
He has been a major part of the Black Cats’ recent success, as he has been developing quickly at the Stadium of Light in recent years.
The star player for Sunderland is a force to be reckoned with; his quick dribbling, ball-carrying, and decisiveness in crucial situations make him a dangerous threat when attacking the box in the half-spaces. For this reason, he has drawn the attention of numerous teams in the league above the second division.
Sunderland seems a bit helpless against Premier League predators. Football Insider reports that the Black Cats think it will be very challenging to retain the 23-year-old beyond the current campaign. West Ham and Brentford are among the elite teams showing interest in the Southampton star.
But after defeating Leeds United at Wembley on Sunday to ensure a first-time return to the Premier League, Russell Martin’s team has emerged as the early favourites. Now that the focus is on the upcoming season, it appears they are working quickly to strengthen the squad. According to the Northern Echo, Clarke has become a “key target” for Southampton.
Last month, Ian Harte, his representative, disclosed every detail of the talks. He told iNews that he doesn’t think his client would agree to a new contract with the team:
“There’s not many people know this but in Jack’s contract he had to play a few games at the start of this season to then get offered a new deal,” stated Harte.
“A bargain was presented, but it wasn’t satisfactory.Although we were pleased to sign the agreement, it was done earlier in the summer and hasn’t been discussed since.
They’ve established a salary system. That’s something that many clubs have. I don’t think [Sunderland] wants to undermine any football player’s structure, so I don’t see it occurring.”
Carlton Palmer’s Jack Clarke valuation
Former England international midfielder Carlton Palmer is optimistic that Clarke would be a good match for Southampton this summer and estimates that Premier League clubs will need to pay him between £15 and £20 million to get him away from Sunderland.
“Southampton, newly promoted to the Premier League, have renewed their interest in Jack Clarke of Sunderland,” he claimed in an exclusive interview with Football League World.
“His agent has stated that he wishes to move on, and I believe that this summer will be the time for it to happen.
“Ian Harte has stated time and time again that he has the option to go on.
“Last season, they declined offers of £10 or £12 million from Burnley and Vincent Kompany.
“I believe they’ll be searching for more than £15 million. Now that’s what Sunderland is doing.
“They like to bring in young players and then sell them for high prices.
“We will thus try to spend the £15–20 million that we pay Clarke to reinvest in the team.
“I anticipate a great deal of interest. After putting up a steady performance for Sunderland, Clarke deserves to go on and see if he can further his game by competing in the Premier League.
“I believe a move to Southampton would be beneficial for him. He would have the chance to play.
“The style that Russell Martin wants to play at Southampton is the way that Clarke likes to play.”
| Jack Clarke’s career stats – per Transfermarkt | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Leeds United | 28 | 2 | 2 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| QPR | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Stoke City | 14 | 0 | 2 |
| Sunderland | 112 | 27 | 22 |
Carlton Palmer gives his reaction to the latest Will Still and Sunderland developments
Jack Clarke’s Sunderland future
Clarke’s time in the Championship is undoubtedly coming to an end, whether he plays for Sunderland or a Premier League team at summer’s end. He has been their greatest player for the greater part of a year and a half, so it is clear that he needs another chance at the top level. The interest is too great to resist.
Despite how important he is and how much the club and supporters would like to keep him, there is very little possibility that Sunderland will be able to resist offers over a certain sum. The money raised ought to assist in bettering Sunderland overall and in a number of different areas.
Offers above £15 million would undoubtedly need to be taken into consideration, particularly given their diminished negotiating position following their failure to secure promotion on their second try in the Championship. Moving to Southampton might be beneficial for all parties in the long run, but spending the money wisely will be necessary.
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