Sunderland boss Michael Beale has responded to recent claims from Jack Clarke’s agent.
Clarke is enjoying another standout season with Sunderland in the Championship.
The 23-year-old has scored 14 goals and assisted four more in 32 Championship outings for the Black Cats this season, having seen links to the Premier League and Serie A in January.
West Ham were among the clubs being linked with a move for the former Spurs youngster, though it was Lazio who tried and ultimately failed to sign him on deadline day.
Since, Clarke’s agent Ian Harte has discussed those Lazio bids, and he’s also caused a bit of a stir after saying he hopes Clarke gets his move in the next summer transfer window.
Harte said on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast:
“There were a couple of bids that came in from Lazio. Sunderland didn’t feel like they wanted to sell the player in the January window. The player has just obviously got to focus on what he’s doing at the moment, which is fantastically well, scoring goals, getting assists.
“But hopefully this summer we’ll probably see Jack moving. Where it may be, we don’t know just yet, but he’s in a good place.”
Michael Beale responds to Ian Harte comments
And speaking ahead of Sunderland’s Championship clash vs Birmingham City this afternoon, Beale has responded to Harte’s comments, saying:
“That’s the first time I’ve heard that. Listen, agents have got a job to do and an agent represents Jack. It’s important that he represents Jack in the right way and I’m sure Jack feels he does. Jack has already reiterated that he’s extremely happy here just last week, so this is going to be an ongoing saga I think until the summer.”
Sunderland could be poised to cash in on Jack Clarke this summer
Sunderland did well to beat off transfer interest in Clarke last summer, and again in January.
They no doubt kept him around to give themselves a good shot at promotion, though with promotion hopes slowly fading, it seems like the club will be forced to cash in on Clarke this summer.
But that’s not all bad; the Black Cats look set to make a huge profit on the player, and it seems like they’ve played this one correctly as the bids coming in last summer were reportedly in the £10million region.
Now it looks like Sunderland will make double that amount and it could fund another busy summer transfer window.
What’s more is that Beale has a couple of strong wingers in Abdoullah Ba and Romaine Mundle who could use the rest of this season to get up to speed, and help ease the potential loss of Clarke next season.
Harte’s comments may not go down well at Sunderland. But Clarke and Beale will no doubt remain focused on the task at hand.
Up next is a trip to Birmingham City this afternoon.