"Surely impossible" - Obstacle facing Leeds United in Sunderland transfer race highlighted | OneFootball

FLW's Leeds United fan pundit does not expect them to pay £25 million for Jack Clarke, even though he believes he is worth the price tag.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Sunderland's Jack Clarke is on Leeds United's transfer radar but he is unlikely to make the switch back to West Yorkshire for a fee of £25 million.

Sunderland are somewhat at the mercy of Premier League sharks. According to Football Insider, the Black Cats believe it will be extremely difficult to hold onto the 23-year-old beyond the current campaign, with a contract that expires in 2026.

Not only has interest been vast, but Clarke's agent Ian Harte believes it's unlikely that the player will put pen to paper on fresh terms, which could force the Wearside club's hand this summer.

Clarke has since rejected a new contract from Sunderland amid interest from Southampton and Leeds, according to Football Insider. Meanwhile, Leeds are "well aware" of the situation of their former academy graduate, who made his senior career debut for the Whites in 2018, according to journalist Mike McGrath.

Graeme Bailey has confirmed that Leeds are in the mix to sign Clarke this summer, should he leave Sunderland before next week’s deadline. The journalist believes that Clarke would also welcome a return to Elland Road, but the Whites also face competition in the race to his signature.

“They are in the mix for Jack Clarke and [I’m] told the player would be happy to move to Elland Road, but there is a lot of interest – the player is expecting to leave Sunderland this month,” said Bailey, via TBR Football.

The Leeds United verdict on Sunderland's £25 million of Jack Clarke

The Yorkshire Evening Post state that a Premier League switch is more likely for the 23-year-old winger with less than two weeks to go of the transfer window, despite Leeds holding interest in their academy graduate to replace new West Ham signing Crysencio Summerville.

Not only that, but Sunderland have set an asking price of £25 million for Clarke amid interest from Leeds, according to TEAMtalk. They report that the Black Cats are looking for a fee similar to the one Leeds received for the sale of Summerville.

FLW’s Leeds United fan pundit Kris Smith is not expecting a deal to be done if the finances are as expensive as that, despite his admiration for Clarke as a player who he believes belongs in the top flight.

He said: "I think it is quite obvious that Leeds have the money from recent sales, but to be spending £25 million before the window shuts next week and put that on one player? That's surely impossible.

"Signing Clarke for £25 million would obviously destroy the Championship transfer signing record.

"There is no doubt he is worth such a fee because he is that good of a player, but we just do not have the status to afford that feasibly to remain within PSR limits, given that we would be making that signing in the second tier. "He'd be the sort of signing that gets you promoted single-handedly, especially with the quality that you hope we reinvest around him. "But, for that reason, he's already a Premier League player in waiting. We won't have the ability to match any offers that come Sunderland's way from Premier League teams that are surely keeping an eye on him as well.

"I would love it if he came back, as he was so good when he broke through and is even better now. It's just totally unrealistic to think we could pull it off, given that we are in the same league as him."

Of course, with Georginio Rutter and Summerville leaving, there is a desire to recruit new forwards to bolster Daniel Farke's ranks, but Leeds have other issues to address in the next week as well.

A left-back, central midfielder, winger, and attacking midfielder are all required before the deadline, and Leeds cannot afford to drop a figure of £25 million on one player and also make additions in other areas for other transfer fees.

A cheaper alternative such as Jon Rowe or Manuel Benson could therefore be the way to go if they need to spread the transfer kitty around the four positions, but there is no denying Clarke's quality as a player.

Clarke would replace plenty of Summerville's output, as it could be argued that they were the two best wide players in the division last season. It's certainly ambitious, but it is worth testing the waters and Sunderland's resolve with the 23-year-old's contract expiring in 2026.