Summer signing Jack Clarke has claimed there was nowhere else he wanted to go and play football after joining Sunderland on a four-year deal despite interest from Sheffield United.

The Blades are understood to have made contact with Tottenham over a move for the 21-year-old attacker but they lost out to their new Championship rivals – with the cost of the deal said to have the potential to rise to £10 million with future add-ons.

Clarke helped Alex Neil's side win promotion to the second tier via the League One play-offs last season after joining on loan in January and, speaking to Chronicle Live, revealed that there was only one club he wanted to join this summer – the Black Cats.

"After last season finished on such a high, there was nowhere else that I really wanted to go to play football, to be honest," explained the Leeds United academy product. "So to get the deal done and over the line was a massive thing for me and my family.

"Getting a short feel for it last year, the fans, and how well we did, the players that I got to play with and the management, it just all fitted into what I want to do and the sort of team I want to play in.

"Winning promotion ranked right up there in terms of my career - it was a massive achievement for the club, the players, and the staff."

Clarke has become Sunderland's third signing of the summer with Leon Dajaku's loan move from Union Berlin made permanent and in-demand centre-back Dan Ballard joining from Arsenal.

The 21-year-old has experience in the Championship already with Leeds, QPR, and Stoke City.

The Verdict

Sunderland fans will absolutely love to hear these comments from Clarke, who it appears is buzzing to have joined the North East club permanently.

Given United are targetting the top six and perhaps even the top two this season, it speaks volumes that he opted for a move to the Black Cats instead, assuming their interest was concrete.

In Ballard, Clarke and Dajaku, Sunderland have signed three bright, up-and-coming players – with all three looking like forward-thinking deals.

Ballard and Clarke both have Championship experience already but you'd imagine we may see Neil sign a few more seasoned professionals in the coming weeks.