Sunderland could be set to make millions from their biggest players this summer.
Their failure to even finish in the top half of the Championship table last season has led to a number of top clubs taking advantage of the quality of their squad.
The likes of Trai Hume, Pierre Ekwah, Dan Ballard and Anthony Patterson have all attracted interest in the first month of the summer transfer window, but Sunderland are yet to accept any bid for their star players.
Recent reports emerged claiming that Hume was the subject of a £7 million bid from Galatasaray, but the Black Cats could demand eight-figures to part ways with the right-back.
Ekwah and Ballard have also received interest from abroad, though Sunderland were already thought to be in talks with the latter to extend his stay on Wearside. Meanwhile, it has already been claimed that the club expect Patterson to stay this summer.
Jack Clarke’s future remains very much up in the air though, with the winger unlikely to sign a new contract.
Clarke was the subject of bids from Burnley last summer, while a host of clubs expressed their interest in him in January.
Sunderland managed to keep hold of the 23-year-old for the rest of the season, but it now looks increasingly likely that he could leave.
Rumours of an £18m price-tag recently circled, with Southampton thought to be one of the teams who had been put off by his valuation.
Sunderland told a £30m price tag for Clarke ‘isn’t unrealistic’
While the Black Cats are yet to receive any offers, they have now been urged to demand almost double their demands.
Speaking on the We Are Sunderland YouTube channel, journalist Matty Hewitt said: “There’s still so many questions around Jack Clarke. No Sunderland fan would begrudge him a move to the Premier League, which is I think where many expect him to be. Whether that transpires this summer remains to be seen.
“If you look at some of the figures being banded about with players at the moment – for Sunderland to be asking for something in the region of £20 to 30 million isn’t unrealistic when you look at some of the figures other players are going for.
“For me, it’s important that it doesn’t become a saga throughout the course of the summer.”
Clarke’s valuation compared to other summer transfers
Clarke isn’t a £30m player and Sunderland fans would probably have previously been content with him leaving for a fee of around £20m. However, transfer business elsewhere could dictate the outcome.
Brighton just spent £30m on Yankuba Minteh, who was yet to make a single appearance for Newcastle, while Omari Kellyman – with two league appearances to his name – joined Chelsea for £19m.
Omari Hutchinson bagged 15 goal contributions in the Championship last season and now joins Ipswich Town permanently for £22m, while the Tractor Boys also signed eight-goal Liam Delap in a deal worth £20m.
While Clarke is yet to prove himself in the top flight, he has done much more than all these players to warrant a place in the Premier League and also warrant the price tag that comes with it.