The Hammers are interested in taking Jack Clarke from the Black Cats, but it will have to be a sensational offer to tempt the Wearside club
Beale didn’t get off to a good start as Tony Mowbray’s replacement, losing 3-0 to Coventry City on his debut, but wins over Hull City and Preston North End, as well as a draw at Rotherham United, put the Black Cats in the play-off spots as things stand.
And the main man for the Wearsiders this season has been Jack Clarke, who has stepped up to the plate in the absence of goals from Sunderland’s centre-forward alternatives, scoring 12 in 26 games.
Clarke has been a creative asset and dribbling king for Sunderland this season, with the majority of their attacks coming through him on the left, but the 23-year-old’s form will undoubtedly keep him on the radar of top-flight clubs.
With three weeks remaining in the transfer window, West Ham United are interested in signing Clarke to improve their options in the last third of the pitch.
According to Dharmesh Sheth of Sky Sports, David Moyes’ team is eager to sign the former Tottenham Hotspur forward this month.
The Hammers’ chase may have been accelerated by injuries sustained by Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen against Bristol City in the FA Cup this past weekend, and with Said Benrahma also certain to leave this month, Moyes will want a fresh injection of inventiveness.
Sheth believes, however, that Sunderland is under no rush to cash in on Clarke, despite their philosophy of buying young players cheap and selling them for a substantial profit, with the winger being a crucial role in their promotion quest, and he is also under contract until the summer of 2026.
According to rumours, struggling Premier League club Sheffield United is also interested in Clarke, but the loan signing of Ben Brereton Diaz may mean he is off their radar for the time being.
However, January is a difficult period for any club to make a large signing because teams are unlikely to want to cash in on their prized assets, which enhances their value in comparison to the summer window.
According to Sunderland reporter Michael Graham, even a £20 million deal would not persuade the Black Cats management to accept, thus Clarke will most certainly need at least £25 million to leave the Stadium of Light in January.
Will West Ham pay that for a Championship player? It remains to be known, but doing so would put the Hammers at tremendous risk.
Leave a Reply