Sunderland winger Jack Clarke will be open to leaving the club in the summer if the Black Cats do not secure promotion, according to journalist Alan Nixon.
Clarke has been a key man for Sunderland this term and his performances have not gone unnoticed, with Premier League sides looking at him; Italians Lazio tried to buy him in January.
Southampton have now joined the list of suitors and are plotting a £15m swoop for Clarke if they can return to the top flight.
Clarke wants to play in the Premier League and is a man in a hurry to do so.
The winger will push hard to help Sunderland win promotion this season, but if they fail to do so then he will open the door on a move away.
The Black Cats have failed to kick on since their owners made the controversial decision to replace Tony Mowbray with Michael Beale.
Under Beale, Sunderland sit tenth in the Championship standings and have lost back to back games.
Clarke scored in the 2-1 loss at Birmingham City on Saturday and continues to stand out as a bright spot in the Sunderland side.
If Beale cannot get the Black Cats up this season though, replacing Clarke looks set to be on the agenda in the summer.
