OPINION
Liverpool could reportedly table a bid to sign Leeds United attacker Jack Clarke in July, spelling potentially terrible news for the Yorkshire club’s fanbase.
According to the Mirror, Jurgen Klopp has sent scouts to keep close tabs on Clarke, 18, and has been impressed by the feedback he has received about the dazzling Elland Road ace.
It is understood that there is a chance Klopp could bid for Clarke once the transfer window re-opens in July, and that is something that many Leeds fans will surely be dreading.
Clarke has been a sensation at Elland Road this season.
The teenager has broken into Marcelo Bielsa’s first team and looked completely at ease in the Championship promotion race by scoring two goals and supplying two assists in 17 appearances across all competitions.
That has understandably led to a lot of Premier League interest in the attacker, with the Mirror claiming that Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United have all been linked.
The Times reported in January that Leeds could bag as much as £15million for Clarke, but ask any Whites supporter and they will tell you that they would rather keep the player and see him develop into someone who is worth three or four times that much.
While it is in the best interest of the club to keep hold of Clarke, it is also in his best interest as well.
He is playing at Leeds and with the sensational front-three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane locked into the starting line-up at Anfield, there’s little to no chance that Clarke would ever get first team opportunities there.
Leeds fans will not want to see Clarke go, but if they did, they would at least want him to justify his exit by playing regularly and reaching his potential.
Sadly, that would not happen at Anfield.