Tottenham journalist Alasdair Gold has claimed that Tottenham have a January recall clause for Jack Clarke and that “another loan move would be the best outcome” for the young attacker.
Leeds sold Clarke in a permanent deal over the summer but loaned the player back for the season.
However, he hasn’t enjoyed his start to the season at Elland Road and has been dropped from Marcelo Bielsa’s squad for the past four league games.
Clarke has made two EFL cup appearances but was hooked at half-time in the game against Stoke, before Leeds crashed out on penalties.
Gold was conducting a Football.London Q&A on Wednesday and was asked if Clarke would be recalled from Leeds.
“Spurs do have a recall clause for January and it will depend on how much he plays in the coming months,” Gold wrote in reply.
“Leeds have an issue with having six loan players and EFL rules only allowing five in a matchday squad.
“Pochettino does not believe he’s ready for the Premier League just yet and if he’s not getting in Bielsa’s team either then that would seem a fair assessment so perhaps another loan move would be the best outcome.”
What’s happened to Clarke?
That’s what a lot of Leeds fans have been asking since the youngster returned from Tottenham.
He was the player all the fans were talking about last season when he broke into Bielsa’s first team and started terrorising defenders.
He hit his peak in the 2-0 win against Derby in January when, according to WyScout, he attempted 10 dribbles and completed six of them. The assist he registered in that game was also his last to date.
He collapsed during the game against Middlesbrough shortly after, was out for six games, and hasn’t started a game in the Championship since.
He’s still very young – just 18 – and he’s got obvious talent, but he might well need a fresh start at another club if he’s not going to play at Leeds.
With no EFL cup games and Leeds’ six loan players, it’s not inconceivable that he’s played his last game for the club that gave him his first shot at the big time.
Football.London also reported today that Clarke has been named in Tottenham’s Premier League B squad, which could indicate that they’re preparing to bring him back to north London.