UNIQUEThe 23-year-old is attracting interest from other Premier League teams, so the Black Cats may have to let him go in the summer.
Jack Clarke, the star forward, has decided not to sign a new deal at the Stadium of Light because Sunderland won’t budge on their wage structure. This information will provide prospective suitors, like West Ham, advance notice before the summer.
In January, Lazio offered about £13 million for Clarke, plus a further £3.5 million. In two years, Clarke’s current contract will expire, and the Black Cats declined it. But given Sunderland’s policy regarding player moves, they might choose to take bids in the off-season for a player who the Premier League is very interested in.
Sunderland has begun their 2024 campaign terribly, forcing Michael Beale to cram 12 games into his two-and-a-half-year contract. Any hopes of making the playoffs were dashed after six straight losses, and their hopes were only restored by a weekend draw with Queens Park Rangers.
Kristjaan Speakman, the club’s well-known director of football, and owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus have serious worries about it. They have both been given the task of trying to recruit a new permanent manager. I’ve been told that Danny Rohl of Sheffield Wednesday, Will Still, the manager of Reims, and an unnamed Belgian candidate—about whom the club conducted background investigations before Beale was appointed—are all being considered.
Answers to more general questions on ambition, transfer spending, and whether or not The squad’s prospects of being promoted are being harmed by their reliance on younger players.
As Ian Harte, Clarke’s representative, has told me he has “no idea” what the future holds, the person who takes the job will probably take pains to clarify Clarke’s viewpoint. He restated that Clarke “loves” the club, although he did leave the possibility open for Sunderland to increase their offer, stating that it is unlikely given their commitment to the wage structure.
In an interview for FreeBets.com, Harte stated, “Jack had to play a few games at the beginning of this season to then get offered a new deal. Not many people are aware of this.” They offered a deal, but it wasn’t good enough.
“We were happy to sign a contract, but the matter hasn’t been discussed since it was completed earlier in the summer.
“They’ve got a wage structure.” There are a lot of clubs that have that. I don’t see it happening since I don’t believe [Sunderland] wants to compromise the foundation of any football player.
It seems unlikely that Sunderland will have much left to play for, even though Clarke’s ankle ligament condition has healed enough for him to remove his protective boot in recent days. I’m guessing Clarke will be back before the season is out. The Black Cats are now ten points ahead of where they were when Tony Mowbray was fired, with nine points standing between them and the play-offs.
Mowbray’s departure was unquestionably a major turning point. Harte voiced his annoyance via a decision that, looking back, Sunderland must have questioned their rationale.
“I was gutted when Tony Mowbray got the boot, and I think most of the squad was gutted too,” he said.
“I think they were three points out of the playoffs at that point. He is an outstanding manager who does a great job developing the younger players.”I was sorry to see him depart, but he was a really wonderful manager and a really kind guy, and his door was open with Jack and [Harte’s other client] Niall Huggins.”