In an attempt to acquire a new winger, Southampton is prepared to do a transfer U-turn for a deal they had previously appeared to have walked away from.
Russell Martin, who signed a new contract on Tuesday that extends his stay until 2027, welcomed his Southampton players back for preseason this week.
Charlie Taylor, Ronnie Edwards, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis have all signed permanent deals to strengthen the backline, capping off a strong summer for transfers.
After his Brighton contract expired, 36-year-old veteran Adam Lallana also went back to the team that made him famous. It now appears that Southampton will keep going after the winger they had supposedly walked away from.
Jack Clarke, a winger for Sunderland who has been one of the top players in the Championship the last two seasons, has long been admired by Southampton.
Journalist Alan Nixon, however, recently stated on his Patreon that the Saints were prepared to back out of a deal for Clarke because they thought Sunderland’s £18 million asking price was too high for the 23-year-old.
Although Jobe Bellingham and Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson are also said to have caught Southampton’s attention, it seems most probable that Clarke will leave this summer.
The Northern Echo says that Southampton may make a second attempt to get Clarke, despite it seeming like they have given up on the wide player. The Saints “retain a really strong interest in Clarke.”
They won’t have it easy, though, as their sports director Kristjaan Speakman stated to The Northern Echo, “I can reiterate our strategy, and our intent is to retain our top talent,” in response to a notion that Sunderland will sell if the price is right.Clarke top target as Southampton pursue wingers this summer
In order to provide depth and talent to the wings, Ryan Fraser and David Brooks both came to the team on loan the previous season. Fraser is anticipated to return this summer, while Brooks is not.
Martin will only have Kamaldeen Sulemana, Samuel Edozie, and Fraser as his natural senior wingers even if Fraser signs on; the latter is probably going to be traded this summer.
In the context of Martin’s team, Adam Armstrong, who played wide much of the previous season, might be regarded as a winger, but they still lack options on the wings right now.
Then-manager Tony Mowbray was all praise for Clarke after the young player had a standout performance in a 3-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers early in the previous season, saying: “He was amazing tonight.”
“Scored two excellent goals, earned the penalties, and stuck it away, demonstrating the degree of confidence he has to accept the penalty and maintain control for his second goal.
But not only the objective. The longer the game goes on, the more this team realizes that they should pass the ball to Clarke, who has the ability to shoot, cut inside, and run the ball 40 yards up the pitch.
“I don’t regret yelling at him and telling him to work hard because all the best players work harder than anybody else and their talent shows through. He’s a great kid with a lot of talent.”
Because of this, it should come as no surprise that the club is still interested in Clarke despite his £18 million asking price. The fact that they haven’t pulled out of a deal despite objecting to the valuation indicates that Clarke is their top goal for a winger this summer.
It is easy to understand why, considering that he has contributed 40 Championship goals to Sunderland’s goals in the last two seasons.
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