Sunderland have resigned themselves to losing star man Jack Clarke in the summer transfer window, sources have told Football Insider.
The Black Cats currently find themselves adrift of the fight for promotion and will be vulnerable to bids for Clarke, 23, if they don’t go up to the Premier League.
The winger was the subject of a reported £14million bid from Serie A side Lazio in January – but Sunderland chose to keep him at the Stadium of Light.
However, Clarke has been a long-term target for Premier League sides – with Burnley seeing a bid rejected last summer (2023).
Clarke set to quit Sunderland – West Ham, Burnley and Brentford all keen
Football Insider revealed in January that West Ham and Brentford are the latest clubs to show an interest in the ex-Leeds United star.
It is believed several other top-flight clubs are considering coming forward with bids in the off-season.
A well-placed Sunderland source has told Football Insider that the club “face a huge battle to keep him”.
Clarke has notched 15 goals and four assists in 35 games across all competitions so far in the 2023-24 campaign.
