Jack Clarke has seen his career stall since he joined Tottenham Hotspur from Leeds United in the summer of 2019. But on Tuesday night, the first signs of a spark might have just emerged – on loan at Sunderland.
Clarke, 21, joined Spurs after having a hand in four goals in 25 games for Leeds in Marcelo Bielsa’s first season. Costing £10million (Mirror), he was loaned back to Leeds – but only managed three appearances at Elland Road.
Since then, he has been on loan at QPR and Stoke – culminating in just 21 games combined, failing to score and laying on just two assists. He joined Sunderland in January, and had failed to score or create a goal in eight.
But on Tuesday night, that changed. Starting on the left, Clarke secured all three points when he cut inside in injury time – before unleashing a powerful effort into the far corner. Just his third senior goal.
Clarke scores for Sunderland: Signs of life for Tottenham star?
Realistically, Clarke is not going to break into Tottenham’s senior side. Spurs will be more than aware that Leeds got the better end of the deal when they bought him for £10million. Clarke is playing to attract new suitors.
He will enter the final 12 months of his contract at Tottenham in the summer – but should his goal against Fleetwood in a 3-1 Sunderland win on Tuesday see him go on a run, other clubs will certainly become interested.
Perhaps, it might just tempt a Championship side to sign him permanently in the summer – giving Clarke a new home. But Spurs and Daniel Levy will have to accept that they are going to make a considerable loss on Clarke.
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