Sunderland AFC transfer latest: Jack Clarke, Anthony Patterson, Divin Mubama | OneFootball

Despite Saturday's 2-1 defeat at the hands of promotion contenders Ipswich Town, Sunderland are still very much in the play-off picture and can secure a top-six spot for the second consecutive season.

The closing months of the Championship season are a tricky time to navigate for any second-tier outfit, while the activity of the January transfer window can hold the key to the success of a promotion-chasing side such as the Black Cats.

The Mackems endured a busy summer transfer window which is unlikely to be matched this January, but movement can still be expected in the North East as the club adds to Mick Beale's squad to bolster their hopes of returning to the Premier League for the first time since the relegation of 2017.

There was a focus on signing young talent in the summer but it remains to be seen whether they will stay true to that strategy this month.

​​Meanwhile, the Stadium of Light is also home to several young talents who are being widely recognised for their positive performances this season, such as shot-stopper Anthony Patterson, who has been linked with a move away from the club.

Here's all the latest Sunderland transfer news...

Jack Clarke contract situation in deadlock as Premier League clubs swirl

The Sunderland Echo report that the Black Cats have made no progress in contract negotiations with their star man Clarke, who became the Championship's fourth leading goalscorer this campaign by bagging his 13th goal of the season at Portman Road on Saturday.

The wide man's current deal at the Stadium of Light lasts until the end of the 2025/26 campaign so the Mackems are not in a desperate situation to offload the ace just yet, but a contract extension would, at the very least, increase the transfer fee the Black Cats could earn from a potential sale.

According to the Mirror, West Ham manager and former Black Cats boss David Moyes is an admirer of Clarke and would like to bring him to the London Stadium, while Hammers' talisman Jarrod Bowen offers proof that it is possible to make the jump from the Championship to a top half Premier League outfit and perform well.

As per the Evening Standard, Crystal Palace and Brentford are also among those keen on the 23-year-old.

As reported by the Mirror, Reds manager Jurgen Klopp could look to bring Patterson to Anfield, if current back-up goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher departs the club, but this move would likely take place in the summer, as opposed to the current transfer window.

Patterson, 23, was an ever-present between the sticks for the Black Cats last season and played a key role as his side reached the top six, but lost out in the playoff semi-final to eventual promotion winners Luton Town.

The talented shot-stopper has maintained his positive performances during the current campaign and has kept an impressive total of eight clean sheets in 27 games while conceding just 30 goals in that time.

According to the Mail, the Black Cats are interested in the loan signing of Hammers youngster Divin Mubama but his parent club do not want to send the England Under-20 international out on loan.

Moyes appears to rate the 19-year-old highly as he was handed a place in the starting XI for the recent FA Cup third round tie with Bristol City at the London Stadium but the starlet was unable to score on his second start of the season.

The Black Cats already have notable young strikers among their ranks, such as Spaniard Eliezer Mayenda as well as former Benfica youngster Luis Semedo but neither have managed to register a single Championship goal this campaign.

Beale's men are heavily reliant on Clarke in the goal-scoring department, as his return of 13 goals is unrivalled as midfielders Dan Neil and Jobe Belllingham are the club's joint second leading goalscorers having found the back of the net on four occasions.

It is no surprise then, that the Mackems have been monitoring Mubama, who was the second top goalscorer in the Premier League 2 division last campaign with 13 strikes, and the failure to capture the 19-year-old could dent the promotion hopes of Beale and co.