Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has now been urged to do one thing at Sunderland this summer.
Sunderland are at something of a crossroads under owner Louis-Dreyfus, following what was a calamitous 2023/24 season.
The Black Cats end the season six points above the drop zone after winning just five games in 2024; only bottom club Rotherham United took less points.
But there’s a chance for Sunderland to recuperate and rebuild this summer, and set the tone for next season.
They’ll need to hire a positive manager who will not only bring he best out of these young players, but also get the fans on board with his ideas for the club.
And sporting director Kristjaan Speakman needs to ensure that whoever the next Sunderland manager is has the players and squad balance necessary for challenging at the top end of the Championship table.
But Louis-Dreyfus could do one thing that defines Sunderland’s 2023/24 campaign.
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus urged to keep Jack Clarke at Sunderland
Jack Clarke is already being linked with a summer move to the Premier League, with West Ham and Bournemouth leading the race.
A summer transfer for Clarke has looked inevitable all season. But journalist Michael Graham believes that Sunderland and owner Louis-Dreyfus should keep Clarke for the 2024/25 campaign.
Graham has urged the Black Cats to have a real crack at promotion next season by keeping Clarke at the club, although he also points out the potential downside of doing so.
If Clarke stays and Sunderland don’t get promoted, then his exit next summer would surely be a formality, and it may mean Sunderland losing a huge chunk of what they could potentially get for him right now.
Graham posted on X:
Sunderland should keep Jack Clarke but sell this player
Clarke’s 15 goals in the Championship last season, and Sunderland’s complete lack of bite without him in the side showed just how important and how good of a player he is.
He’s under contract at the Stadium of Light until 2026 and so Sunderland have a bit of breathing room in that regard.
But he’ll have a price. If a team comes in and meets that price, which is surely close to the £20million mark, then Louis-Dreyfus and co would surely be expected to cash in.
Sunderland have to remain a selling team to a degree, but like Graham points out, keeping Clarke could really set the Black Cats up for promotion next season.
Of course, they’d need to hire a manager, sign a new striker and so on. But if no club comes in with a huge offer for Clarke this summer then the club should keep him.
That said, goalkeeper Anthony Patterson might be one who the club should look to cash in on this summer.
He too has Premier League links and would net the Black Cats a decent transfer fee if he was sold, and with England enjoying something of a golden generation of goalkeepers, replacing him wouldn’t be as hard as replacing Clarke.
So there’s options for Sunderland this summer. But the aim remains the same and that’s reaching the Premier League; keeping Clarke for one more season might be their best route to the top flight.