Sunderland talisman Jack Clarke insists transfer speculation and uncertainty about his long-term future at the club won’t impact his game with the Black Cats his only focus.
Last season’s standout performer was the subject of transfer interest in the last two transfer windows with both Burnley and Serie A giants Lazio having bids knocked back.
With 15-goals to his name come the end of last season, Clarke is on the radar of several Premier League clubs including Championship play-off winners Southampton. However, the 23-year-old isn’t letting any transfer talk impact him in pre-season.
“Obviously that interest has been there but it doesn’t affect me,” he said after Sunderland’s 2-1 defeat to Gateshead. “I’m still wearing a red and white shirt at the end of the day.
“That’s what I’m focusing on. As long as I’m in a red and white shirt, that’s all I’ll be focusing on.”
Clarke has two years remaining on his current contract and while negotiations have taken place in the past, there’s been indication to suggest Sunderland will re-enter the negotiating table. The Black Cats hierarchy have repeatedly stressed the importance of keeping their key players, but this summer may also prove to be an opportune time to cash in on one of their star assets.
“I’m coming in every single day, wearing Sunderland colours every day,” Clarke added. “As long as I’m playing for Sunderland I won’t be thinking about anything else.
“If things are going to happen then they’re going to happen when they happen. I’m not focusing on anything else other than the present and in the present I’m playing for Sunderland.”
The Black Cats defeated South Shields 5-0 in the first of a pre-season double header, before being beaten 2-1 by Gateshead FC. Clarke started the clash against the Heed, playing 70 minutes of the defeat at the International Stadium and was one of several Sunderland players returning from an injury lay-off at the end of last season.
“You have to look at the positives rather than the negatives,” Clarke said. “A lot of players haven’t played for a while and it was good to get the minutes under our belt. With the new manager coming in there are things we have to learn quickly and try to get better as pre-season continues and hopefully take it into the season.
“He’s only been in two weeks and we’re still trying to implement things. We have a lot of boys coming back from loans and injuries who need to get up to match fitness pretty quickly.
“It didn’t quite gel for us today but hopefully as pre-season continues we’ll get more of an understanding of what he wants and we’ll start putting in some better performances.”
