It was bound to happen sooner rather than later was Jack Clarke’s departure from Leeds United to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. Joe Urquhart’s tweet (below) are the bitter cherry on a very sour-tasting cake for Whites fans.
https://twitter.com/JoeUrquhartYEP/status/1143816175173939206
Clarke came to the attention of Leeds United fans after being used from the bench by Bielsa, his input creating an automatic impact. He featured in 22 Championship games for the Whites last season, games that returned two goals and two assists. His threat and directness, his willingness to run at opponents, marked him out for the talent that he is – obviously raising his profile for sides such as Spurs.
The impact that Jack Clarke made in this breakthrough season is the kind of breakthrough that comes at a price. Leeds United are now likely to be finding out that the price they will have to pay is seeing another highly rated young player move away from Elland Road to North London. On that topic, former Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Phil Hay presses the certainty of that happening with the following tweet.
Jack Clarke to Spurs about to happen. He’s in London for a medical. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) June 26, 2019
This will mean that Leeds United fans will have that altogether too familiar feeling of yet another rated youngster leaving the club and following in the footsteps of Lewis Cook and Charlie Taylor. As a fanbase, they cannot say they were not warned, club owner Andrea Radrizzani has already said that the Whites will run a difficult transfer window this summer.
Fans interpreted this, at the time, along the lines of a ‘sell-to-buy’ policy as the West Yorkshire club looked to navigate the unsteady waters of the EFL’s FFP regulations. That policy is now looking more likely to be funded, in part, by the sale of Clarke.
As with any decision of such a magnitude as this, there’s bound to be reaction. Here’s what some Leeds United fans have been saying about the matter.
Clarke to go – Leeds United fans react
Jack Clarke is a cheap mans Alioski.
— Liam Sharp (@ItsLiamSharp) June 26, 2019
https://twitter.com/Turnervr82/status/1143818465423364098
Fees Phil. FEES. TALK TO MEEEE pic.twitter.com/qWqcKMe2VZ
— Brandon Yates (@Brandon7Yates) June 26, 2019
Anybody who watched a lot of games last season knows he’s a 1 trick pony. Offered very little after Boro, was well figured out. Good player but I’d be more worried about losing Shacks and if it means we can get some quality in than sound. Needs to be reinvested though.
— Jay Smith (@vodkainmyeyes) June 26, 2019
All part of the plan, Bielsa never expected promotion last season and used some of the time to artificially inflate the value of Clarke with the intention of flipping him for coin this summer, found a mark in Poch 😉 No great loss to lufc and some £ in the bank #bravo
— John Skitt (@johnskitt) June 26, 2019
https://twitter.com/Spencelufc/status/1143819147559788544
https://twitter.com/MattMoore92/status/1143819115578179585
I hope Clarke goes on to be the player we know he’ll be. Sad reality is Leeds will always need to sell until Leeds get to the PL. I would of been more worried if Shacks had gone. Big season for Shacks #lufc
— Adam Ross (@rossi_on) June 26, 2019
