Sunderland and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman should take no notice of recent comments made on Jack Clarke.
Sunderland and Jack Clarke may part ways during this summer’s transfer window, following another standout season from the ex-Spurs man.
Clarke scored 15 goals in the Championship last season and has once again been linked with a string of Premier League clubs.
The 23-year-old has long-term interest from the likes of Crystal Palace, with Southampton and Wolves mentioned more recently.
Recent reports claim that Southampton are stepping way from a potential summer deal for Clarke because Sunderland have set an £18million price tag.
Before that, it was claimed that Sunderland wanted between £25-30million for Clarke, and that Wolves were one of the leading contenders for his signature.
Since, pundit Carlton Palmer has given his verdict on Clarke at Sunderland, and what the Black Cats should potentially charge for his signature this summer.
Carlton Palmer verdict on Jack Clarke price tag at Sunderland
Palmer recently gave an interview, sharing his thoughts on Clarke amid reports that Southampton have been put of by the apparent £18million price tag.
Palmer said: “I think there’s still a deal to be done, if Sunderland are drawing their line in the sand at £18 million, they’ve got to be careful.
“At the end of next season, he’ll be in the final year of his contract, and if he stays, Jack may well sit out his contract.
“If they’re going to sell him, they’re going to have to sell him now.
“I would think they need to agree a fee, lower their valuation of him a little bit and get him out the door at £12-15 million.”
How much Sunderland can realistically charge for Jack Clarke this summer
There’s a lot of debate around how much Sunderland want for Clarke this summer; reports stretch from £18million all the way up to £30million.
But Palmer’s suggestion that Sunderland may have to stoop as low as £12million for Clarke, because of the fact that he’s out of contract in 2026, is certainly baffling.
The Championship is a fast becoming a breeding ground for Premier League clubs with teams often spending £20million and more on the league’s top stars.
Names like Nathan Tella, Alex Scott, Ebere Eze, Adam Wharton, and Jarrod Bowen have all gone for fees above or close to £20million in the past, and all of whom had little or no Premier League experience whatsoever.
So £20million for Clarke certainly seems like a baseline. Also, the fact that he’s a goal-scoring winger may make him even more valuable, as that’s a commodity in the Premier League which can be hard to come by.
Even with his contract out in 2026, Sunderland could still command a hefty fee now or next summer; if he stays for another year and scores 15 or 20 goals, then that only reaffirms the fact that Clarke must not be sold for less than £20million.
Kristjaan Speakman and co have earned praise for their reluctance to sell players on the cheap, and they must retain a firm stance on Clarke.