Sunderland reject offer for Jack Clarke and consider him 'not for sale' in January

Sunderland will not sell Jack Clarke this month despite receiving an offer from Italian giants Lazio.

Clarke has been a stand-out player for Sunderland this season and he registered his 16th goal contribution of the season in the 3-1 win over Stoke this weekend.

He has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs, with West Ham, Brentford, Burnley, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace all taking a good look at him.

Last week sporting director Kristjaan Speakman confirmed there has been no offers for Clarke, but that has now changed with Lazio lodging a bid of €16million (around £13.5million) this weekend.

Fabrizio Romano, though, says Sunderland’s position is firm and the club ‘consider Clarke not for sale’ this month.

The offer is also significantly less than Sunderland want for Clarke, and they believe they can get £25million for the former Leeds man this summer if they are not promoted themselves.

⚪️🔴 Understand Sunderland consider Jack Clarke not for sale in the January transfer window.

Formal proposal from Italy worth €16m package has been rejected yesterday.

Price in the summer likely to be around €30m… but #SAFC plan to keep Clarke if they get promoted. pic.twitter.com/OkfxYmnAJk
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 28, 2024

Spurs will be due 2% of any sale, and Sunderland want as close to £20million from any sale to reinvest as possible.

It is important to note, though, that when Clarke or other star players are sold, the ‘reinvestment’ will not just be on transfer fees.

Much of it will, but some will also be used on things that supporters can’t necessarily see on the surface, such as raising the wage ceiling at the club, contract extensions for existing players, and the academy.

That decision won’t be needed this month, though, as Clarke seems all but certain to remain at Sunderland until the summer at least.

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