Burnley have reportedly joined Brentford in the race to sign Sunderland attacker Jack Clarke in the upcoming January transfer window.
The 22-year-old has enjoyed a productive start to the 2023-24 term with the Black Cats, making the net ripple on seven occasions in 11 Championship appearances as his side push for promotion.
Clarke was part of Tony Mowbray's team who narrowly missed out on making a return to the Premier League last term, with the winger providing 20 goal contributions in 45 second-tier matches as Sunderland lost in the playoffs.
Since joining the North-East club from Tottenham Hotspur on a permanent deal in the summer of 2022, the former England youth international has played 61 times, scoring 18 goals.
According to Football Insider, Burnley are in a battle with fellow Premier League outfit Brentford for the capture of Clarke in the January transfer window.
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The report adds that the newly-promoted Clarets were interested in the player during the summer as they looked to bolster their forward ranks ahead of their return to the top flight following a one-year absence.
It is understood that Burnley's fondness of Clarke was serious, and they supposedly made a bid worth in the region of £10m to Sunderland for the 22-year-old.
Despite a respectable approach, the Black Cats declined the offer proposed by the Turf Moor club, with the Championship side keen to keep a talent who was instrumental to their promotion charge last term.
Vincent Kompany soon moved on to focusing on the acquisition of other targets in the summer window, securing the signings of Mike Tresor and Luca Koleosho from Genk and Espanyol respectively.
It is believed that Burnley are still keeping tabs on Clarke, though, with another push for his signature pencilled in for the upcoming transfer window in the New Year.
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The report also claims that the Clarets will face competition in their mission to bring the winger to Lancashire, with fellow top-flight side Brentford wanting to add the player to their offensive options.
Thomas Frank's Bees have endured a difficult start to the new season without Ivan Toney leading the line, managing just one win during their first eight games of the term.
Burnley have also tasted success just once in the league to date, although they have lost three games more than Brentford, meaning that the Clarets currently sit 18th in the Premier League standings with four points from their opening eight contests.
Following the second international break of the campaign, the two clubs who are set to battle for Clarke will clash at the Gtech Community Stadium, where the Bees will host on the Clarets on October 21.
Carter White
