Gary Rowett has hailed the qualities of Sunderland winger Jack Clarke, with David Moyes’ West Ham United pushing for his signature.
Sources have already told HITC Football that Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United and Vincent Kompany’s Burnley are keen on Jack Clarke this month.
But ex-Millwall boss Gary Rowett, who shared that he once tried to sign the former Tottenham player, thinks he could make the step up to a team like West Ham United.
The 23-year-old was compared to a cult hero at the London Stadium – Jarrod Bowen – and how he could follow his path.
Gary Rowett added that Jack Clarke is a player who can do it at ‘any level’ and he is showcasing great end product this season, as he told The Transfer Show on Sky Sports.
For an indifferent Sunderland side that sacked Tony Mowbray, the former Leeds United youngster has 13 goals from 28 games from the left flank.
And now that form could be rewarded with a step up to English football’s elite level competition.
Jack Clarke at West Ham United
“I think he is a little bit like Jarrod Bowen,” said Rowett. “In the sense that he has done very, very well in the Championship for a few years now.
“I actually met him and tried to sign him at Millwall on-loan, at one stage. I think he was at Tottenham, at the time. He moved to Spurs at a young age from Leeds. Probably a bit too much was expected of him. I think the loans have really, really helped him.
“He has got great end product. He has shown that this season. One v One, he can beat a player. I think he can do that at any level.
“I see him a little like Jarrod Bowen, at the time (when he was at Hull City). Can he make that step? Is he good enough to make that step? But when you have seen Bowen handle it so well, there is no reason why Clarke can’t either.”
Jack Clarke in the Premier League
There are many prime examples in the Premier League. Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney, Bowen, Dominic Solanke, John Stones, Jack Grealish and Eberechi Eze, to name a few, who have done it in the Championship and are now thriving at the top.
Patience will be needed with Clarke, but that previous move to Spurs was too early and the club wasn’t in the frame of mind it is in now.
But whoever gets his signature now, and they are better off trying to get him this month than waiting for the summer, will feel the rewards in years to come.
Just ask West Ham fans about that night in Prague and that late winner from Bowen!
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