Sunderland braced for Premier League transfer raid on host of stars including ex-Spurs ace after fluffing playoffs
SUNDERLAND are braced for Premier League offers for their stars — and may be set to sell a couple.
The Black Cats missed out in the Championship play-offs despite a gallant effort.
Ex-Spurs kid Jack Clarke, 22, is a Brentford target while 26-year-old fellow winger Patrick Roberts could also move as his contract ends next year.
Keeper Anthony Patterson, 23, is on the list at Leicester and Wolves — and 21-year-old midfield dynamo Dan Neil also has admirers.
It comes amid suggestions boss Tony Mowbray is fighting to keep his job.
The ex-Middlesbrough defender and manager guided Sunderland to a sixth-place finish in his first season – following promotion from League One under Alex Neil last term.
But Luton KO’d the Black Cats 3-0 on aggregate in the play-off semi-finals.
And within 24 hours of last Tuesday’s exit, three names were linked with Mowbray’s position.
RB Salzburg chief Matthias Jaissle, 35, was regaded as the frontrunner.
Italian Francesco Farioli, who manages Turkish top-flight club Alanyaspor, has also been talked up.
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And the third man being mentioned is ex-Barnsley boss Gerhard Struber, whose three-year reign at MLS side New York Red Bull ended this month,
Meanwhile, Sunderland are reportedly closing on Birmingham midfielder Jobe Bellingham, 17, the younger brother of England sensation Jude.