The 22-year-old had an exceptional season for Sunderland in 2022-2023, following his transfer from Tottenham Hotspur for £1 million during the summer. He scored nine goals and contributed 11 assists, helping the team secure a top-six finish.
In the current season, Clarke has already netted seven times in 11 Championship matches, making him the leading contender for the Golden Boot in the division. He was also named the Player of the Month for September. Sunderland, managed by Tony Mowbray, currently holds the fourth position in the Championship, but they are only four points ahead of 15th-placed Millwall, highlighting the competitiveness of the league.
According to a report by TEAMtalk, Burnley’s efforts to sign Clarke have become more challenging recently, as two more Premier League clubs, Brighton and Crystal Palace, have shown interest in the winger. Both clubs are reportedly planning to make offers in the upcoming January transfer window. Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers are also said to be keen on Clarke, who has been in great goal-scoring form at Sunderland.
During the summer, there were reports that Burnley had a £10 million bid for Clarke rejected by Sunderland. The North-East club previously valued the player at £15 million and were willing to hold onto him, given that his current contract runs until the summer of 2026. However, with Clarke’s continued impressive performances in the early months of the 2023-2024 season, Sunderland has raised their asking price to £20 million. It remains to be seen whether a bidding war will unfold in the New Year among the clubs interested in the player, but it is known that his Premier League suitors are ready to start negotiations at £15 million.
Sunderland is eager to maximize their earnings from Clarke’s potential transfer, especially considering that his former club, Spurs, may have a substantial sell-on clause, potentially as high as 50%.
Burnley has struggled to score goals since returning to the Premier League, with only seven goals in their first eight league matches, three of which were scored by Lyle Foster. Burnley has an opportunity to secure their second win of the 2023-2024 league campaign when they face Brentford on Saturday, a club also rumored to be interested in Clarke.
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