Sunderland ace Jack Clarke will reportedly sign a new contract with parent club Tottenham Hotspur this summer before heading back out on another loan ahead of the start of next season, according to Lilywhites insider John Wenham.
The Lowdown: An instant impact
The 21-year-old first made the move to the Black Cats on loan from the Premier League outfit back in the January transfer window, where he has made 19 appearances since arriving at the Stadium of Light, scoring one goal and providing three assists during that time, as per Transfermarkt.
The winger played the full two sets of 90 minutes in Sunderland’s League One play-off semi-final against Sheffield Wednesday where they secured a 2-1 aggregate victory, providing the winning assist to Patrick Roberts.
The Latest: Another loan move on the cards
When speaking during an interview about Clarke’s future at Spurs, Wenham admitted that he doubts any club looking to take him on a permanent basis will meet Tottenham’s asking price, making another loan spell the most sensible available option.
He told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild: “So Clarke is actually out of contract in the summer of 2023.
“So I think what will happen is he will return to us and sign a new one-year extension and he will go out on loan again.
“Maybe this time it will be a Championship club, it would be good to see him move a step higher.
“At this point, no one is going to pay anywhere near what we paid for him so another loan could also boost his value.
“I think that’s the aim at this point. I also don’t think Sunderland will be able to afford him outright but he could rejoin them next season if they go up.”
The Verdict: Make it happen
There’s absolutely no doubt that the Black Cats hierarchy will want to do everything within their power to try and retain the services of the youngster next season and beyond if they are able to afford going back in for another move.
The £25k-per-week starlet has proven to be a real threat in the final third for the Wearsiders this term, where he has averaged 1.6 dribbles, 1.6 key passes, and 1.5 shots per game, via WhoScored, displaying just how much of a huge part he played in getting Alex Neil’s squad into the top-six.
The Scotsman is clearly a huge fan of Clarke too, having dubbed him a “quality” player, and if Sunderland do manage to secure promotion to the Championship, this could be a huge factor when it comes down to the player deciding whether he wants to return to the club again next year.