Clarke set for Black Cats

West Ham's Clive Clarke could be the latest player to leave Upton Park, according to Sunderland boss Niall Quinn.

Quinn, who recently succeeded Mick McCarthy as SUnderland boss has been keeping tabs on the Irish full-back, and told the Shields Gazette:

"Clive Clarke is pretty close to signing for us and we're hoping that's going to happen.

"We identified him as someone who could do a good job for us at left-back. He's itching to play regular football again.

"But it's not a done deal and if it doesn't happen, then we have other options."

Should Clarke - who joined the Hammers from Stoke City for £275,000 almost a year to the day - return to the Championship, he will become the SEVENTH first team squad player to leave the club this summer.

Lionel Scaloni, Yaniv Katan, Elliott Ward, Chris Cohen, Shaka Hislop and Carl Fletcher have already departed, leaving manager Alan Pardew with a smaller squad than he ended last season with.