Jack Clarke has become the target of yet another Premier League club this month.
Sunderland did really well to palm off multiple bids from Burnley for Jack Clarke in the summer, but his form this term has only upped the interest.
After netting 12 goals in 26 games in the Championship, the winger has been linked with a number of Premier League sides including Brentford, Crystal Palace and Brighton.
The Black Cats have already been warned that the ‘vultures will be circling’ as teams prepare to make a move on Clarke in the January transfer window, while another club has since joined the race for his signature.
According to The Guardian, West Ham are now tracking Jack Clarke – who Tony Mowbray previously labelled a ‘super talent’.
The Hammers are hoping to end the campaign strongly after finishing top of their Europa League group, while the report claims they are looking for replacements as they wish to offload Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals.
Clarke isn’t their only target though, with David Moyes’ side said to be also monitoring Ajax’s Steven Bergwijn.
Sunderland have made it clear that they wish to keep hold of Clarke this month and there has already been talks of a new contract, 18 months after he put pen to paper on a £15,000-per-week four-year deal.
Should Jack Clarke leave Sunderland?
Sunderland are going through a rough patch on and off the pitch at the moment though, and even though they sit in sixth place, their chances of winning promotion seem to be rapidly decreasing.
It wouldn’t surprise me if the club’s current situation opens the door for Jack Clarke to leave, as it honestly doesn’t feel like we are going to be the best place for him to be for the next six months.
We are playing boring football, we are struggling to win games and the atmosphere around the club is rather sour at the moment.
I wouldn’t blame him for leaving, but I also know that he is pretty much our only chance of reaching the play-offs. Any deal for Amad Diallo looks like it’s off the table, but perhaps a move for someone like Kieffer Moore could add to our chances.
The forward has been heavily linked with a move to Wearside and would be exactly what we need up top – even if Nazariy Rusyn has impressed in recent games.
Bringing in a proven goalscorer would surely excite Clarke too, who looks far from reaching his tally of 12 assists in the Championship last season.