Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray stated to the Northern Echo that Jack Clarke hasn’t been moping after failing to gain a move to the Premier League during the summer transfer window.
The Black Cats would have understood that keeping Clarke would be difficult given his impact last season, with the ex-Tottenham Hotspur man only signing permanently last summer but producing a stunning 11 goals and 14 assists in 50 competitive appearances.
He may only be 22 at this moment, which has certainly contributed to his high level of interest, but he had to start his career at the Stadium of Light after an unfortunate spell with Spurs.
This is something he accomplished, and the 22-year-old may have been eager to return to the Premier League in the summer to play against his previous club and demonstrate why they should have used him more.
In the summer, who was interested in Jack Clarke?
Burnley appeared to be the most interested in him during the last transfer window, with Vincent Kompany’s side having the financial means to pay the millions required to capture his signature after gaining promotion back to the top flight at the first time of asking.
They may have previously had Anass Zaroury and Manuel Benson at their disposal, among others, but Nathan Tella left the club, leaving a large attacking hole that needed to be addressed.
The Clarets appeared to see him as a potential replacement for the current Bayer Leverkusen player, and made repeated bids in an attempt to close a transfer.
One of these bids was thought to be in excess of £10 million, but because the player still had plenty of time left on his contract at the Stadium of Light, they were able to take a harsh bargaining posture on him.
What did Tony Mowbray have to say about Jack Clarke’s attitude after he failed to secure a move to Burnley?
Although it was claimed that the winger was upset when a deal in excess of £10 million was turned down, Mowbray praised the player’s professionalism.
“He is getting into goalscoring areas now, he understands that he has to score as well as create,” stated the Black Cats’ manager.
“He has faith in himself. There were significant bids for him in the summer, but the club decided they weren’t suitable, so here he is.
“He’s not moping around, he’s not upset that he didn’t get to play in the Premier League because the club didn’t think the fee was fair.”
Is Jack Clarke on the right track?
He has been able to focus on problems on the pitch by not tossing his toys out of the pram.
And he has reaped the benefits, scoring three goals in six league games.
That isn’t a bad record, and given the inexperience of the squad, the Black Cats may continue to rely on him to deliver the goods.
Even if there is interest in him, he should concentrate on his game until a bid is approved.
That’s easier said than done, but eliminating outside noise should help him a lot.
Leave a Reply