Sunderland look as though they could lose Jack Clarke in the final week of the transfer window.
Jack Clarke has made a strong start to the 2024/25 Championship season with Sunderland.
The 23-year-old has one goal and one assists in the opening two games, and there’s also growing transfer interest in Clarke.
Leeds United have been linked with a return for their former player, but it’s Ipswich Town who’ve made the first move.
Reports claim that Ipswich Town have made a £15million bid for Clarke, with add-ons, ahead of the August 30th transfer deadline.
Sunderland want £25million for Clarke this summer. It’s also claimed that Clarke hasn’t rejected a Sunderland contract, despite suggestions that talks between the two were at an impasse.
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Sunderland’s most expensive player sales after Ipswich Town bid for Jack Clarke
Whilst Ipswich Town’s bid for Clarke seems to fall well below the club’s valuation of the player, Clarke’s exit from the Stadium of Light can’t be ruled out this summer.
But fans will say that £15million for Clarke is far too low, especially after seeing the likes of Georginio Rutter go to Brighton for £40million just this week, and with Norwich City’s Jonathan Rowe poised to join Marseille in a deal that could rise to £17million.
And if Ipswich seal a deal for Clarke, for an initial £15million, then that £15million fee would me Clarke the fourth-most expensive Sunderland player sale of all time.
Jordan Pickford to Everton for £28.5million during the 2017/18 season is the most expensive Sunderland sale of all time.
Darren Bent is the second (sold to Aston Villa for £21.5million during the 2010/11 season), and Jordan Henderson to Liverpool (£18million during the 2011/12 season) is the third-most expensive.
So if Ipswich Town’s bid for Clarke rises to £20million with add-ons, he’ll be the third-most expensive Sunderland player sale of all time.
If Sunderland get £25million for Clarke, he’ll become the club’s second most expensive player sale.
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Sunderland owners must stick to Jack Clarke value after Ipswich Town bid
The Sunderland owners and Kristjaan Speakman have earned praise in the past few transfer windows for sticking to player’s valuations.
Last summer, they rejected bids for Clarke because they didn’t match their valuation, and it may be safe to assume that the club will do the same this summer.
Clarke, compared to recent player sales in the Championship, certainly seems like a £25million player at the least.
£15million, even if it rises to £20million, feels low for Clarke, who appears to be happy at Sunderland for now.
It may be best for Sunderland to swiftly reject Ipswich’s bid.