BRENTFORD have joined Burnley in the battle for Jack Clarke, with the Premier League clubs both readying bids for the Sunderland winger.

Having had a succession of offers for Clarke turned down in the summer, Burnley’s recruitment team are set to make a renewed push for the 22-year-old at the turn of the year as they look to support Vincent Kompany’s attempts to secure top-flight survival.

The Sunderland hierarchy, led by Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Kristjaan Speakman, rejected Burnley’s final offer of around £13m in August, but with Kompany’s side struggling in the relegation zone, the Clarets are expected to table an improved bid at the turn of the year.

They are set to face strong competition from Brentford though, with Bees boss Thomas Frank keen to enhance his side’s attacking options in January.

Brentford are expected to sell Ivan Toney at the turn of the year, with Arsenal and Tottenham both having been heavily linked with the striker, who is currently suspended after breaching gambling rules, and will look to use some of the money received from the sale to fund the purchase of Clarke.

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The Sunderland winger has been the standout player in the Championship so far this season, with his seven goals making him the division’s joint-leading scorer, and Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray accepts the club could struggle to hold on to Clarke for a second window in succession.

“In the last window, there were some bids for Jack Clarke and they weren’t accepted,” said Mowbray. “But I would suggest every player is for sale. If you can sell one and you can bring three in who you think are better for the money that you’ve got, then you’d do that. I would suggest everyone is for sale as long as you get recruitment right. I don’t see it being a negative.

“It's a form of revenue to develop young players and make them better, so we would never say we’re not going to sell a footballer.”