The path is now clear for West Ham to sign £20m star Jack Clarke after a final attempt to sign him up to a new deal collapsed.
West Ham were very much in the market for a new attacker in January.
And the three names on the club’s shortlist were Sunderland star Jack Clarke, Jota and Ibrahim Osman.
The Hammers looked certain to bring in a new left-sided forward. Especially as they allowed Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals to leave.
But in the end the only addition was central midfielder Kalvin Phillips on loan.
Sunderland attacker Clarke emerged as West Ham’s prime target for much of the window.
Any potential move hit the buffers when Sunderland dragged their heels over selling their star player to the Hammers given they were fighting for the play-offs and potential promotion back to the Premier League.
The Black Cats also reportedly wanted to make one last attempt at extending Clarke’s contract.
Well now the path clear for West Ham to sign Clarke after a final attempt at a new deal collapsed.
In an exclusive, the i’s northern football correspondent Mark Douglas claims West Ham have been put on red alert after Sunderland’s refusal to break their wage structure killed any hopes of Clarke signing a new deal.
“Sunderland’s refusal to break their wage structure means star forward Jack Clarke will not sign a new contract at the Stadium of Light – news that will put West Ham and other suitors on alert ahead of the summer,” Douglas reports.
“The Black Cats rejected a bid in the region of £13m – with £3.5m in add ons – from Lazio in January for Clarke, who has two years left to run on his current deal. But given Sunderland’s player trading model they may opt to listen to offers for a player who has plenty of Premier League interest in the close season.”
This is fantastic news for the Hammers. Especially with the prospect of Lucas Paqueta leaving in the summer.
Clarke ticks a host of boxes for West Ham. At 23 and with bags of potential to be a top player, he fits technical director Tim Steidten’s recruitment philosophy.
Crucially he also counts as a homegrown player. And he can not only play across the forward line as well as centrally, but as a left wingback too – an area the Hammers are short of cover for Emerson Palmieri.