Jack Clarke has endured a tumultuous time of it since leaving Leeds United. Joining Tottenham for £10million in the summer of 2019, after 25 outings in the 2018-19 season under Marcelo Bielsa – he is now Sunderland’s star player.
But it has been up and down for Clarke over the last four years. Having starred for Leeds – and catching the eye as a future gem with two goals and two assists in those 25, he returned to Leeds on loan. That loan was cut short, early.
Poor loan spells at QPR and Stoke followed, while Clarke was even struggling to prove his worth in a Spurs shirt with the London club’s U21 side. He joined Sunderland in January 2022, dropping further down into the third tier.
Clarke’s form was hardly eye-catching. But he did score once, and lay on four assists in 20 games. It was enough to convince Sunderland to sign him permanently following promotion – and they will be delighted they took the risk.
He has been sensational this season. The England U20 star has started 44 of Sunderland’s 46 Championship games this term – coming on as a sub in one, and missing the other through suspension. Play-off place achieved.
Sunderland star Clarke rated at £20m four years after Leeds exit
It is his numbers that catch the eye. He has had a hand in 23 goals – scoring 11, creating 12. Incredible form that is certainly catching the eye of Premier League clubs. The Sun say Palace and Brentford want £10m-rated Clarke.
But given his stats, and he is still only 23 – the Sunderland Echo argue he is worth double that figure, a fee of £20m. An example used was Palace star Eberechi Eze. Before his £16m move, he had a hand in 22 goals in the second tier.
That fee Palace paid for Eze could rise to £20m. Clarke has already produced more goal involvements, and could go further in the play-offs. Promotion would see him stay. But the Echo are right to say Clarke is worth a huge £20m.
