AFTER so much uncertainty, it all happened quite quickly in the end.

There was no drawn out saga, no public back and forth and no bidding war between several clubs; instead, after Ipswich made their move for Jack Clarke this week, came a swift conclusion.

And so head coach Regis Le Bris today faces the challenge of taking on perhaps the best team in the division without Sunderland's best player of the last two seasons.

And yet the exit of Clarke was always more probable than possible this summer, which is why the Black Cats drew up a list of potential replacements before the transfer window opened. We'll get to that and what happens next but first how this week's developments came about and why Sunderland ultimately decided to sanction the exit of their star who had underlined his importance in the victories over Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday.

There has, in recent weeks, been tentative enquiries about Clarke's situation and availability but none of the clubs sniffing around the winger firmed up their interest with bids until Ipswich this week. And rather than dip their toes in the water, the Tractor Boys made what Sunderland deemed a strong offer immediately, giving the Black Cats a decision to make.

Sunderland could have haggled with the Premier League club but knew time wasn't on their side and were aware it would have made sourcing a replacement even more difficult had this matter rumbled on into next week and the final days of the window.

And, ultimately, they were happy - or as happy as you can be when losing your best player - with the deal. The Black Cats will receive £15m up-front and that will rise to £18m within 12 months. There's also a sell-on clause included in the deal.

Plenty of Sunderland fans would disagree and claim Ipswich have got the best of this deal. They'll point to several players moving from the Championship to the Premier League for bigger fees - Leeds getting £40m for Georginio Rutter and £25m for Crysencio Summerville for example - and say the Black Cats could - should - have held out for more.

Sunderland would point to Clarke's contract situation. The 23-year-old was into the last two years of his deal and there were no signs an agreement would be reached on an extension.

But what if Clarke had kicked on again this season, starred in a side that finished in the top six and topped last year's goals and assists? Even if he was moving into the final year of his deal, wouldn't Sunderland have been able to get at least the fee they've agreed with Ipswich?

The Black Cats would argue that with every window Clarke's value would depreciate and, if Ipswich were the only club to bid this summer, there's no guarantee they'd have been able to sell the winger 12 months down the line.

READ MORE:

There's also Clarke's wishes to take into account. The player has handled himself well and dealt with the speculation and uncertainty surrounding his future admirably. Never has he banged the door down demanding a move or given anything less than 100% in training or on the pitch. He did, however, let it be known that he wanted a crack at Premier League football.

And it's the reality of life in the Championship that Sunderland weren't able to come anywhere near to matching the financial package that Ipswich offered Clarke.

How Sunderland will be judged here is not by Clarke's exit in isolation but by what happens next.

Signing a player for less than £1m and selling him for more than £15m is undoubtedly a success from a business perspective but, as Brighton and Brentford have both demonstrated in recent seasons, the model only works if the departing player is suitably replaced.

Despite the coffers being boosted by Clarke's exit, don't expect Sunderland to go and spend north of £5m on a player in the next week. Why? Because some of the players they'd targeted have already moved on this summer and the Black Cats couldn't make their move while Clarke's future was uncertain. And because selling clubs would no doubt add a tax to any Sunderland targets in the knowledge the Wearsiders have just received big money and are looking to replace their star man.

But Sunderland want to further strengthen their forward line after the arrival of Wilson Isidor and need to if they want to avoid disappointment in the stands at Clarke's exit turning to anger.

Efforts continue to strike a deal for Roko Simic while Alexandre Mendy remains a target. Sunderland are understood to want one more striker and a left sided attacker before Friday's deadline. If, for example, Simic and Mendy - two out and out strikers - were to arrive, Isidor would be used more of the left, where he's comfortable, and he'd battle for the shirt with Romaine Mundle.

Mundle could be the big winner here. He's not yet polished and he's inconsistent but so was another former Tottenham winger when he arrived, the player he now has the chance to replace. But there'll be patience with Mundle.

Whatever the solution, Sunderland need to find a way to progress in the absence of Clarke and follow the winger back into the Premier League.