As first reported by Sky Sports last night, the Blues have reached an agreement with the Black Cats for the 23-year-old.
The EADT and Ipswich Star understands the fee is £15m with around £3m of realistic add-ons.
A skilful and direct left-winger who loves to cut inside from the left, Clarke bolsters an attacking unit that manager Kieran McKenna felt was thin on the ground.
Clarke burst on the scene at boyhood club Leeds before making a £10m move to Tottenham in 2019. The wide man failed to make an appearance for Spurs though, having Championship loan spells at Leeds, QPR and Stoke.
Another loan spell, this time at League One Sunderland, reignited his career in 2021/22. After helping the Black Cats to promotion, he made that switch permanent. Since then, he’s produced an impressive 26 goals and 18 assists over the last two seasons in the Championship.
The Blues are also finalising a season-long loan for Chelsea striker Armando Broja.
Signing Clarke and Broja would take the number of signings to 11.
The nine in through the door so far are: Aro Muric (Burnley, £8m), Ben Johnson (West Ham, free), Jacob Greaves (Hull, £15m), Conor Townsend (West Brom, £500k), Kalvin Phillips (Man City, loan), Jens Cajuste (Napoli, loan), Omari Hutchinson (Chelsea, £18m), Sammie Szmodics (Blackburn, £9m) and Delap (Man City, £15m).
Signing Clarke will take the Blues’ summer spending spree past the £80m mark (not including loan fees), with that number having the potential to far exceed £100m if various add-ons and obligation to buy clauses are triggered.
If Clarke or Broja are to be involved in tomorrow’s game at Manchester City then they would need to be registered before 12pm today.
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