There’s been a major boost for West Ham as Jack Clarke ices Sunderland contract talks amid big money claims in the north east.
Sunderland attacker Jack Clarke has emerged as West Ham’s prime target in the January transfer window.
But there has been doubt cast over whether Sunderland would sell their star player to the Hammers given they are fighting for the play-offs and potential promotion back to the Premier League.
Clarke ticks a host of boxes for West Ham and David Moyes. At 22 and with bags of potential to be a top player, he fits technical director Tim Steidten’s recruitment philosophy.
Crucially he also counts as a homegrown player. And he can not only play across the forward line as well as centrally, but as a left wingback too – an area the Hammers are short of cover for Emerson Palmieri.
Clarke scored a beautiful goal in the Black Cats’ win over Ipswich at the weekend.
A Sunderland reporter claimed his reaction suggested he wants to stay with the club.
There has been a development that is very much in the Hammers’ favour, though, according to a well placed source in the north east.
Major boost as Clarke ices Sunderland talks
And it’s a major boost for West Ham as Clarke ices Sunderland contract talks amid big money claims.
The Sunderland Echo’s Black Cats man in the know James Copley claims the Hammers target has put any talks over a new deal on hold.
And he says Sunderland’s inability to match the kind of wages on offer from West Ham could turn Clarke’s head.
“Sunderland’s contract talks with star man Jack Clarke remain at an impasse amid transfer speculation this window…” The Echo reporter claims.
“West Ham have been heavily linked with a move after Burnley had several bids rejected last summer…
“It is a possibility, though, that a big-money bid could force Sunderland’s hand during the current window…
Money talks?
“The Echo understands that Sunderland and Clarke remain some way off in their negotiations in terms of the player’s weekly wage, which was always likely to be the case once teams in the top flight started showing an interest. It is a cold hard fact that Premier League clubs can better anything Sunderland have offered so far.
“Sources have told The Echo that Clarke is happy at Sunderland and enjoying his football whilst insisting the player will not force a move during the January transfer window but that representatives are aware of his value and are highly unlikely to bring their wage demands down. The flip side to that is that Sunderland are also highly unlikely to up their wage offer given their present structure.”
The report, which carries much more detail on the minutiae of the situation, does state the chances of Sunderland selling Clarke to West Ham remain unlikely in this window.
But Sky Sports’ north east reporter Keith Downie claimed last week that Sunderland will reluctantly sell Clarke for any offer over their £20m valuation.
And it was reported last week that West Ham are “poised” to launch an opening bid for Clarke.
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