The excerpt highlights Sunderland’s struggles in finding a new manager and the added complication of speculation surrounding Jack Clarke’s future. The club has been linked with several potential managers like Paul Heckingbottom, Steve Cooper, and Marek Papszun, but so far, no permanent solution has been found.
The situation is further complicated by interest from clubs like West Ham United, Leeds United, and Tottenham Hotspur in Jack Clarke, with a potential transfer deal exceeding £20 million. This could force Sunderland to sell Clarke and seek a replacement, with Mikey Johnston from Celtic being suggested as a potential target by Carlton Palmer.
Johnston, currently on loan at West Bromwich Albion, has been performing exceptionally well, prompting interest from clubs even though he may stay in the Championship. Carlton Palmer praised Johnston’s performances since joining on loan from Celtic, indicating that he could be a valuable addition to clubs like Sunderland looking for replacements.
“Yes, a lot of clubs will be taking note of the way that he’s playing, so you will be looking at clubs who will be looking at players moving on, Jack Clarke will be moving on, [Jon] Rowe will be moving on, and people will be looking at Mikey Johnston as a possible replacement. But certainly, Norwich and Sunderland, and other prospective Championship clubs will be monitoring the situation given his outstanding form for West Bromwich Albion.
“With Sunderland’s policy of trying to buy young players, and get them in cheap, I don’t think Johnston will fall into that because I think Celtic will be looking at least £2m or £3m given his form in the Championship.
“So whether Sunderland have the money to pay that, Norwich do have the money to pay for Mikey Johnston, so we’ll have to see come the end of the season, but he’s certainly done great things at West Brom and [is] attracting a lot of attention.”
“Fantastic” Johnston is a ready-made Clarke replacement
As Clarke heads for the exit door, Johnston would be a ready-made replacement despite being outside the club’s usual target age range, having enjoyed an excellent season at the Hawthorns. The Celtic loanee has scored six goals in just nine Championship games, whilst providing one assist.
Clarke, meanwhile, has scored 15 goals in 33 Championship games in what will be a difficult output to replace in the summer transfer window, especially if it’s not Johnston that those at the Stadium of Light turn to. What’s more, for around £3m, Sunderland would be getting themselves a bargain deal for the West Brom loanee.
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