Rabbi Matondo signs: Identifying 3 ideal Jack Clarke replacements for Sunderland AFC | OneFootball

The Black Cats dismissed Michael Beale in February, placing Mike Dodds in charge of the first team squad for the remainder of the campaign.

He oversaw a disappointing end to the season, with the Wearside outfit finishing 16th in the table.

A permanent replacement for Beale has yet to be confirmed, with multiple names seemingly still in the running.

Whoever is appointed as the club’s next head coach will have to deal with speculation surrounding one of the team’s most important players.

Jack Clarke has been linked with a move away from the Stadium of Light this summer after his impressive campaign in the Championship, with Southampton just one of the clubs poised to firm their interest up.

Here we look at three names that could be an ideal replacement for the 23-year-old, should he depart Sunderland in the transfer market...

Liam Millar

Liam Millar spent last season on loan with rivals Preston North End, joining from Swiss side Basel on the final day of the 2023 summer window.

The wide player performed well with the Lilywhites despite playing in an unfamiliar left wing-back role, earning plenty of plaudits for his role in helping Ryan Lowe’s side compete for promotion to the Premier League.

The 24-year-old contributed five goals and five assists from 35 appearances in the Championship, as Preston finished 10th in the Championship.

The Canadian proved an excellent addition to the PNE squad, and could be a solid replacement for Clarke should he depart.

While Millar spent most of the season at left wing-back, he could move further forward to play as a more natural winger, having proven his prowess going forward during his time at Deepdale.

It was also reported last January that the Black Cats hold an interest in signing Millar if he doesn’t make a permanent move to Deepdale this summer.

Andrew Moran

Andrew Moran spent last season on loan with Blackburn Rovers, and performed in various positions for the struggling Lancashire outfit.

Despite the team’s poor results, the Irishman still stood out as an exciting young prospect and contributed two goals and six assists.

He is more than capable of filling in at left-wing and has the creative attacking flair that could replace Clarke in the squad.

It remains to be seen whether Brighton would be willing to sell the youngster on a permanent basis, but a loan move could also prove beneficial for Sunderland.

Moran would also fit into the Black Cats’ model of putting an emphasis on youth, with the 20-year-old still developing.

A promising first season in the Championship showed that the Seagulls youngster could become even better with another year under his belt.

Rabbi Matondo

Rabbi Matondo hasn’t quite been able to break into the Rangers first-team squad on a consistent basis since his arrival in 2022.

During his two seasons with the Scottish giants, he has made 38 appearances in the Premiership, with only 16 of those coming as a start.

The left-winger has contributed five goals and seven assists from that, and has looked promising even if opportunities have been limited.

At just 23 years of age, he could be a good fit to replace Clarke as another young talent with plenty of potential.

The Wales international has earned a lot of solid experience already in his career, including in European competition with Rangers, and could be a quality addition to the Sunderland squad, with the promise of more regular first-team minutes perhaps an exciting proposition if the chance comes around.