In news coming through via the MailOnline and supported by Sky Sports News HQ (Tweet – below), Newcastle are in talks with Aston Villa’s Ireland defender Ciaran Clark after activating the £5m release clause in his contract.
BREAKING: Newcastle in talks with Ciaran Clark after activating Aston Villa defender's £5m release clause. #SSNHQ https://t.co/nBlXkFFxVs
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 1, 2016
Clark has been a one-club man after coming through the ranks at Villa but now it looks like he will soon be on the move away from Villa Park.
Only two days ago, according to the Birmingham Mail, Clark committed his future to the club amid supposed interest from West Brom. Quoted in the Birmingham Mail, Villa manager Roberto Di Matteo said: “Ciaran is a Villa man, a Villa boy, he has pledged his future to us. He will be staying with us. He is very happy to be with us, to stay here. I know he has a long-term contract as well.”
They say a week is a long time in politics, but it is an eternity in football as in the space of two days the length of Clark’s contract has become meaningless. With Clark “in talks” with Newcastle, then it is a likelihood, though not a certainty, that the 19-cap Ireland could soon be swapping the Midlands for the North East, the Holte End for St James’ Park.
If that proves to be the case, then Ciaran Clark will call time on a Villa career that has seen him make 159 senior appearances (10 goals and six assists) and 25 Under-21 appearances (five goals and one assist).
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