Kyril Louis-Dreyfus urged to do one thing at Sunderland but it could mean losing £10m

Kyril Louis-Dreyfus urged to do one thing at Sunderland but it could mean losing £10m

Sunderland’s owner, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, has been asked to do one thing this summer.

The Cats are at a crossroads under owner Louis-Dreyfus, following a disastrous 2023/24 season.

The Black Cats finish the season six points above the relegation zone,

having won only five games in 2024; only bottom club Rotherham United took less points.

But Sunderland has a chance to recover and rebuild this summer, setting the tone for the following season.

They’ll need to choose a positive manager who can not only get the most out of these young players,

but also get the fans on board with his vision for the team.

And sports director Kristjaan Speakman must ensure that whoever the next Sunderland manager is has

the players and squad balance required to compete at the top of the Championship table.

But Louis-Dreyfus could do something that defines Sunderland’s 2023/24 season.

Kyril Louis-Dreyfus lobbied to keep Jack Clarke at Sunderland.

Jack Clarke has already been linked with a summer move to the Premier League, with West Ham and Bournemouth leading the way.

Clarke’s summer transfer has seemed imminent all season.

However, journalist Michael Graham argues that Sunderland and owner Louis-Dreyfus should keep Clarke for the 2024/25 season.

Graham has pushed the Black Cats to give themselves a real chance of promotion next season by keeping Clarke, but he also highlights the possible drawbacks.

If Clarke stays and Sunderland does not get promoted, his departure next summer will almost certainly be a formality,

and Sunderland may lose a significant portion of what they could obtain for him right now.

Sunderland should keep Jack Clarke and sell this player.

Clarke scored 15 goals in the Championship last season,

and Sunderland’s complete lack of bite without him demonstrated how crucial and talented he is.

He is under contract at the Stadium of Light until 2026, so Sunderland has some breathing room in that sense.

But he’ll charge a fee. If a team comes in and meets that price, which is undoubtedly close to £20 million,

Louis-Dreyfus and co. are anticipated to cash in.

Sunderland must remain a selling club to some extent, but as Graham puts out,

keeping Clarke might really set the Black Cats up for promotion next season.

Of course, they’d have to hire a manager, find a new striker, and so on.

But if no team makes a significant bid for Clarke this summer, the club should keep him.

However, custodian Anthony Patterson may be a player the club should consider selling this summer.

He, too, has Premier League links and would fetch a good transfer fee if sold, and with England having a golden age of goalkeepers,

replacing him would be easier than replacing Clarke.

So there are choices for Sunderland this summer.

However, the goal remains the same: to join the Premier League;

keeping Clarke for another season may be their best chance.

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