Kristjaan Speakman has hinted at Sunderland’s plans regarding Jack Clarke in the January transfer window.
The winger attracted interest from Burnley in the summer after claiming 21 goal contributions in the Championship last season, with Sunderland turning down multiple bids to ensure he remained on Wearside.
With ten goals under his belt this term, Jack Clarke has picked up a lot more attention and is now said to be a target for a number of clubs including Crystal Palace and Brentford.
It looks highly likely that Sunderland could see the ‘vultures circle’ around their star man in the January transfer window, though it is has been unclear whether the Black Cats could give in to a hefty bid.
Tony Mowbray was previously desperate for Clarke to sign a new deal at the Stadium of Light, while he also warned the club’s board about selling their prized assets.
It raises the question as to whether Mowbray’s attitude was part of the reason why he was sacked by Sunderland, with concerns now growing around Clarke’s future at the club.
Kristjaan Speakman has since been asked about Clarke’s ‘conundrum’ in January, with the forward’s potential exit meaning promotion could be very tricky.
As per Chronicle Live, Speakman replied: “I don’t think it’s a difficult conundrum.
“I don’t know who first used the words ‘the model’, I think it might have been me and if it was I should probably check myself because that has come back every [time].
“It’s just about having a really well-organised organisation at your football club.
“The selling the players part is a by-product of doing well, and that should be on the choice of the club in collaboration with the player at a given moment.
“The football club has turned down numerous bids on numerous players over the last couple of years, and we have sold one player [striker Ross Stewart who joined Southampton in a £10m deal on deadline day in September].
“I feel it is a slight misrepresentation around the direction of travel and what the objective of the club is because if we were a selling club, we would have made loads of sales – and we haven’t.
“When players do really, really, well and they attract the attention of the Premier League outfits then naturally that is going to be a difficult moment.
“But our ownership has been rock-solid around that and I don’t think we will be looking to trade players when we have that opportunity to get promoted.”
It is a case of ‘when’ not ‘if’ with Jack Clarke
Sunderland would surely have to receive a huge offer to even consider Jack Clarke’s departure anyway, with Nick Barnes already claiming they could be forced to cough up over £25 million.
It seems highly unlikely that a Premier League club would come in with such a bid in January, so as for now, I would be surprised to see him leave.
But there has been little talk of a new deal for Clarke and it would be far from a shock if he was to leave in the summer.
Though if we failed to win promotion this season then that would be understandable, I certainly wouldn’t blame the board. The winger shouldn’t really be playing in the Championship and a solid second half to the campaign could see us earn a very good fee next year.