Ian Harte, agent of Jack Clarke, has opened up to Sunderland fans about the star forward amidst interest reigniting from the Premier League.
It is safe to say that Sunderland have had an up-and-down season in the Championship so far which sees them sit in ninth.
At times, Tony Mowbray’s side have been unplayable which has seen them gain many plaudits. The issue comes when some naivety and poor play has prevented them from reaching higher in the league.
There have been some standout performers for the Black Cats from Dan Neil and Jobe Bellingham to Trai Hume and Niall Huggins. Plenty of players have been on top of their game that is for sure.
With that being said, there has been one man who has stood out above the rest this season for obvious reasons. Ten goals and an assist have opened English football’s eyes to Jack Clarke which has sparked plenty of interest in his signature.
What has Ian Harte said about Jack Clarke?
You may recognise the name Ian Harte as he was a great player not so long ago. From Champions League with Leeds United to a short spell with Sunderland in 2007. He is now a football agent and happens to be Clarke’s representative.
In an interview with the I, Harte has opened up about Clarke, his time with the Black Cats and any potential moves away.
It is clear to see that the Englishman is happy where he is. On that, Harte said: “Jack is happy. He loves it at Sunderland.
“I’ve always said Jack is happy at Sunderland, he loves it at the club, he gets on with the group of players.”
No matter how happy he is, links to the Premier League with Burnley and Brentford will still catch the attacker’s eye. With that being said, Mowbray was able to rebuff their advances over the summer but it may be harder come January.
Discussing a potential move, Harte added: “Obviously, there was a club that came in over the summer to try and take him away. They put the offer to Sunderland, Sunderland declined and obviously, Jack has to stay professional. He has to still go and put performances in and that’s what he’s done and that’s what he’ll continue to do.
“I’m guessing Sunderland have a valuation, if that valuation is met then I’m sure they’ll be on to me and onto Jack saying ‘Thanks for your time but it’s time to move on’ in the nicest way possible.”
Although it may hurt Sunderland fans to hear, given the form of the Englishman and the Black Cats’ league standing, it isn’t a surprise. With that being said, there is no guarantee that anybody comes in to match this “valuation”.