“Stay with us and keep growing” Regis Le Bris personally plead with Sunderland Ace forcing a move out of Stadium of light with just 2yrs left with The Blacks Cats.
Clarke started the new season in style yesterday as he scored the Black Cats’ second goal in their 2-0 victory at Cardiff.
The 23-year-old has been the subject of intense transfer speculation throughout the summer, but Sunderland have not received a single formal offer since the window reopened in June.
Southampton and Brentford are understood to remain interested in Clarke, but having watched the winger’s performance at the Cardiff City Stadium, Le Bris is hoping he is not prised from the Stadium of Light in the next three weeks.
“I think his (Clarke) position with us is perfect,” said the Black Cats boss. “Let’s not change anything. Stay with us, keep growing, because we need this kind of player. The rest, I don’t know, but he’s an important player for us, for sure.”
As well as hoping to retain Clarke, Le Bris is also keen to see Sunderland add players to the current squad before the transfer window swings shut.
The need for a new centre-forward is obvious, with Le Bris accepting that his current group of forwards are too young and inexperienced to withstand the inevitable rigours of a Championship season.
Eliezer Mayenda led the line at Cardiff yesterday, but struggled to retain possession in the final third and failed to convert the only chance that came his way when he shot at the legs of Bluebirds goalkeeper Ethan Horvath in the second half.
“The players we have at the moment in this position (attack) are good and talented, but are too young to support the pressure of the Championship where there is so many games,” he said. “If they start too early in that position, it won’t help them or help the team. So, we have to find the right competition in this position and the right hierarchy inside the club, for sure.”
Le Bris has been holding regular transfer discussions with sporting director Kristjaan Speakman, but admits he does not know whether a new addition is likely ahead of next weekend’s Championship home game with Sheffield Wednesday.
“I’m only focused at the moment on the team,” he said. “On the recruitment, I know behind the scenes the club is working very hard to find the right solution. All the teams in this league want to improve their squad and we know that we can give something more, for sure. We will see during the next week.”