Former Sunderland winger Carlos Edwards has recommended the club sign Peterborough striker Jonson Clarke-Harris, according to a Football League World report.
The former Trinidad and Tobago international, who was part of Roy Keane’s Sunderland in 2007, has claimed that manager Michael Beale will struggle to get Sunderland promoted but believes the proven EFL goal scorer can help push The Mackems towards that target.
Clarke-Harris has been prolific in League One, with over 100 goals in 260 games for teams such as Bristol Rovers and Peterborough. He has been less successful in the Championship, managing around a goal every four and a half games.
Rotherham and Peterborough are the two clubs with whom the striker has experienced Championship football, tasting action 98 times across four seasons. His last shot at second-tier football came in 2021-22 where he managed 12 goals in 41 games as The Posh were relegated.
The former Coventry City man striker was made available for transfer by his manager Darren Ferguson after the playoff nightmare at the end of last season. A return to Bristol Rovers reportedly fell through in the summer and he is currently being heavily linked with a switch to Charlton Athletic.
Despite the uncertainty over his future, he has scored six goals in 17 matches to help his side to second in League One, just a point behind Portsmouth with a game in hand.
Edwards believes that Sunderland should take a chance on the forward who will be 30 by the start of next season. He said, “There are so many strikers out there that I’m sure they could go in for. Me personally, I would go in for Peterborough United striker Jonson Clarke-Harris.”
“For the last two or three seasons, he’s proven that he can score goals. I don’t see why, it’s easy to make excuses, but everyone has their value. I know Peterborough would put a certain value on him.”
“Just take a chance. You need a striker, you need one of those. So why not?”
Writer’s View
Watching from afar, Jonson Clarke-Harris is one of those players you don’t really like but would love in your team. Certainly at League One level. You don’t like him simply because he tends to get the job done in front of goal.
At Championship level, his powers have been somewhat reduced and he has found getting goals far harder to come by.
In terms of the financial package, this deal would be relatively comfortable for Sunderland and would be a difficult one for the player to turn down. However, if Beale is under pressure so soon in his tenure it is hard to believe he will turn to a striker with a modest Championship record who fans will see as not being wanted by a club in the division below.
A primary school teacher turned writer, Tom has been part of The Real EFL for two years. He focuses on predictions, deep dives, and insightful content.
