West Ham and Bournemouth in competition for Sunderland transfer swoop | OneFootball

According to The Daily Mirror (09/05, page 61), the two Premier League sides are both quite keen to add the winger to their ranks ahead of next season.

Clarke has enjoyed two successful campaigns in the Championship with Sunderland since signing for the club on a permanent basis in 2022.

He initially arrived on loan in January 2022, and helped the Black Cats seal promotion back to the second tier.

Since then, he has contributed 24 goals and 15 assists from 85 league appearances with the team finishing sixth and 16th in the league.

Jack Clarke transfer latest

Clarke has attracted plenty of transfer interest in the past, but has remained at the Stadium of Light until now.

However, that could easily change this summer following the team’s disappointing second half of the campaign.

The club fell away from promotion contention, and the opportunity to move up into the top flight may now be too enticing to turn down.

It is expected that a decision will be made over Clarke’s future once an appointment is made over the next head coach.

There are multiple sides in the Premier League keeping tabs on the 23-year-old ahead of the summer market.

West Ham are seen as the side most keen to add him to their ranks, as they look to rebuild for impending new manager Julen Lopetegui.

The Hammers have also been linked with moves for Championship stars Jacob Greaves and Callum O’Hare, indicating their interest in getting active in the market this year.

Bournemouth are also in the race to sign the ex-Tottenham Hotspur forward, with the Cherries having sealed their place in the Premier League for next year already.

However, no decision will be made on Clarke’s future until he finds out who will be appointed as Sunderland’s head coach.

Sunderland’s head coach search

The Black Cats have been linked with a number of names to replace Michael Beale, who was dismissed last February.

Mike Dodds was placed in charge until the end of the campaign, but it’s unlikely he will be made the long-term successor due to how poor results were during his time in charge as an interim.

Will Still has been named as a potential appointment, with the 31-year-old now available after departing French side Reims.

Sheffield Wednesday’s Danny Rohl has also been linked, as has ex-Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom.

Jack Clarke future will be key to Sunderland’s summer

Determining what happens next with Clarke will be a big focus of the Championship side’s summer business.

If they can convince him to stay then that will be a huge boost to the team, and allow them to focus on making additions elsewhere in the squad.

However if he departs, and it would have to be for a figure in the region of £15 to 20 million, then the Wearside outfit will have to reinvest that money into signing a replacement, as well as strengthening in other areas.

The next head coach appointment could be decisive, as the right man could help convince the winger to remain at the Stadium of Light for another year.