OPINION
Leeds United fans should be worried about keeping hold of their best players if they miss out on promotion to the Premier League this season, and one player whose future they are surely stressing over is Jack Clarke.
The 18-year-old has enjoyed a breakthrough season at Elland Road under Marcelo Bielsa’s leadership. He has made 18 appearances across all competitions, scoring two goals and supplying two assists in the process, as well as attracting a lot of attention in the January transfer window.
According to Football Insider, Tottenham made a loan-to-buy offer for the teenage winger, while the Mirror has reported that Liverpool are ready to swoop for him when the summer transfer window opens.
It would definitely be hard for Leeds to turn down a big-money offer for Clarke, especially as the Times has reported he is valued at £15million.
That money might be easy to turn down if the Whites are a Premier League club, but over the weekend, Bielsa’s men dropped down to third in the Championship table as they were beaten 1-0 by promotion rivals Sheffield United at Elland Road.
Although it was not a killer blow to their promotion hopes, losing their top-two status is enough for fans to worry about whether or not their club will return to the Premier League under Bielsa’s leadership.
And if they do fail in their mission for promotion, then Clarke is bound to be the first player to leave Elland Road in the summer due to his huge price-tag and sheer amount of interest that has been shown in him.
Clark is a Yorkshire lad through and through, but he would surely find it difficult to turn down the likes of Spurs or Liverpool if they come knocking at the end of the season if Leeds are still in the Championship.
It is so important that Bielsa secures promotion, preferably via the top-two, if United want to hang onto their hottest prospect.