Leeds United need a big, marquee signing when replacing Crysencio Summerville before the August 30 deadline to appease fans and to try and cover the loss of The Championship Player of the Season.
Of course, Summerville is about to be joined by Georginio Rutter in leaving Leeds with the Frenchman set to complete a £40m move to Brighton. Both need replacing, but Summerville maybe more so than Rutter.
Leeds have other options in the 10 role like Brenden Aaronson and Joel Piroe. But on the left, Leeds really lack the quality of Summerville and only an expensive, proven, top-quality winger will leave fans happy.
In the immediate aftermath of Summerville’s exit to West Ham, Leeds fans took to social media to tell the club they wanted Jack Clarke back. The Sunderland star has been super for the Black Cats in recent years.
Sunderland want Jack Clarke to sign new deal amid Leeds links
The 23-year-old left Leeds in the summer of 2019 to join Tottenham after Marcelo Bielsa brought him into the side at Elland Road. After 25 appearances and four goals and assists, Tottenham paid £10m for Clarke.
Loaned back to Leeds and then to Stoke and QPR, he struggled. Regaining his confidence in Tottenham’s U21 side and then on loan at Sunderland, he helped the latter gain promotion and has not looked back.
He has had a hand in 50 goals in 113 Sunderland games, and that has seen Sunderland slap a £25m price tag on the “phenomenal” star’s head and Leeds are now said to be aware of the Thorp Arch product.
Indeed, Leeds could make a move for Clarke before the deadline. The Sun’s Alan Nixon now reports on his Patreon channel that Sunderland are trying to hand him a new deal, but are ‘struggling’ to do so.
What Marcelo Bielsa said about Clarke during 2018-19 season
Prior to his incident at Middlesbrough, Clarke looked an incredible talent and was fully deserving of his move to Tottenham. A player with immense dribbling speed, easily able to beat men as if he was gliding.
Now, he has added that end product to his game at this level. He would be worth every penny if Leeds chose to spend a fee north of £20m and was even on the receiving end of some rare Bielsa praise.
After the 3-2 win at Aston Villa in which Kemar Roofe scored the winner, Bielsa said: “When I started to look at his skills I didn’t imagine that he could make the difference as he’s making the difference now.”
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