Clarke was the subject of major Premier League transfer interest this summer, with newly-promoted Burnley having four bids for the 22-year-old rejected, the last of which was in excess of £10 million, as their proposals fell far short of the Black Cats’ valuation of about £15 million.

Crystal Palace and Brentford were also rumored to be interested in Clarke, but the Black Cats were able to keep one of their prized assets.

Clarke had an excellent season last season, scoring 11 goals and recording 14 assists in 50 games to help Tony Mowbray’s team reach the Championship play-offs, and he has started the new season in similar vein, scoring five goals in nine appearances.

According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, Clarke was frustrated that Sunderland did not allow him to leave this summer after sanctioning the departure of striker Ross Stewart to Southampton, and after promising he could leave if the club received a £10 million offer, but Mowbray insists Clarke is happy at the Stadium of Light.

“Not really. He told me that if the move happens it happens, he’ll take it in his stride,” Mowbray told the Sunderland Echo.

“If it doesn’t happen he’s going to be happy at this football club.

“He said that to me so I didn’t have any fears. He wasn’t banging on my door saying ‘gaffer I want to go, what’s going on?’ He wasn’t doing that.

“He was saying ‘if it happens it happens, if it doesn’t happen I’ll give you everything I’ve got’ which was good to hear and he’s continued to do that.”

What did Gus Poyet say about Jack Clarke’s Sunderland future?

Speaking to Football League World on behalf of safebettingsites.com, Poyet revealed that he is hopeful the Black Cats can keep hold of Clarke until the end of the season, but he admitted it is a difficult decision for the club from a financial perspective.

“The Jack Clarke situation is a tough one,” Poyet said.

“There is obviously a business plan in place set up by owners who came in at a very difficult time when the club was in League One.

“They have a very good business plan and within that is the financial side which takes into account players like Jack Clarke who could be the subject of interest from other clubs – it’s always a tough situation.

“I can’t see anything happening with him too soon but it depends how well he plays between now and January, but I would like to think that he will stay until the end of the season.”

Will Sunderland keep hold of Jack Clarke in January?

It seems certain that Clarke will again attract interest in January after his excellent start to the season.

Burnley’s wide areas are well-stocked with the likes of Manuel Benson, Nathan Redmond, Anass Zaroury, Luca Koleosho, Mike Tresor, and Jacob Bruun Larsen, so it would be surprising to see the Clarets renew their interest, but Clarke is likely to have emerged on the radar of other Premier League clubs.

Clarke has a contract at the Stadium of Light until 2026, thus Sunderland are in a strong negotiation position, and their high valuation might be a stumbling barrier once again.

Mowbray’s team are among the early promotion candidates, and if their run continues, Clarke may believe that staying with the Black Cats is his greatest opportunity of playing in the Premier League.