Cats trying to seal deal for return of loan star
SUNDERLAND are pushing to sign Jack Clarke from Tottenham Hotspur on a permanent deal ahead of their upcoming Championship campaign.
Talks between Sunderland and Spurs over a permanent transfer to the Stadium of Light for the 21-year-old are understood to have taken place, after Clarke’s impressive loan spell on Wearside last season.
He played a huge part in helping Alex Neil’s side earn promotion from League One last term, with the winger showing up in the play-offs for the Black Cats when it mattered most.
Spurs are set to jet off to South Korea for a pre-season tour on July 9. Whether or not Clarke will be included in Antonio Conte’s squad remains to be seen. Clarke is heading into the final year of his deal with Spurs, who he signed for from Leeds United back in the summer of 2019.
Spurs are unlikely to want to lose him on a free next summer given they spent around £10m on the winger, but have not seen Clarke flourish since his arrival.
The winger has made just three appearances for them, spending most of his time at the club away on loan at Leeds, QPR, Stoke and Sunderland.
Clearly a player who has bags of promise, a permanent move to the Stadium of Light this summer could give Clarke stability and a platform to kick on.
Clarke would be a player who can grow in the Championship with Sunderland, helping them stabilise their position in the division before kicking on further down the line for a potential tilt at the Premier League again.
Last term saw Clarke make 20 appearances for the Black Cats, with the winger playing a pivotal
role for them in the play-offs. It was Clarke who produced a fine injury-time assist for Neil’s side against Sheffield Wednesday in the second leg of the play-off semi-final.
The wide man burned down the left-hand side to deliver a cross into the path of Patrick Roberts, who scored to give the Black Cats a 2-1 win on aggregate.
In the final against Wycombe Wanderers he was given a 29-minute cameo, replacing goalscorer Elliot Embleton as Sunderland won 2-0 at Wembley.
With Spurs boasting an array of quality attackers who all sit ahead of Clarke right now, it would seem the 21-year-old is surplus to requirements.
If he is not selected for their trip to South Korea, then a permanent move away from north London should be on the cards.
However, there is also interest in Clarke from Sheffield United, who reached the Championship play-offs last season.
While their squad is better equipped to challenge for a playoff spot in the upcoming campaign there is every chance Clarke’s history on Wearside could give Sunderland a boost in the race to sign the winger.
The 21-year-old enjoyed his time at the Stadium of Light and could play a key role in helping them stabilise themselves in the Championship next term.
FORMER Sunderland striker Connor Wickham looks set to join Championship side Reading following his release from MK Dons at the end of last season.
Wickham was in Reading’s squad for their pre-season friendly against Colchester, which saw the Royals triumph 2-0.
Reading are currently under a transfer embargo after they breached the EFL’s profit and sustainability rules, meaning they can only sign players who are free agents or loanees.
With Wickham a free agent, he could be set to join the Championship side who will almost certainly be among the relegation candidates next season due to their close-season troubles.
A move to Reading would see him face off against Sunderland in the upcoming Championship campaign. Wickham signed for Sunderland in 2011, spending four years on Wearside.