Many West Brom fans have reacted on Twitter quite positively to the news of their club being in ‘advanced talks’ with defender Matt Clarke.
Journalist Pete O’Rourke shared the claims earlier this week as the Baggies seek to add to their squad ahead of the start of their Championship campaign next month.
Clarke has been a Brighton player since 2019 but has failed to make an appearance for the Seagulls, spending the last two seasons on loan at Derby County.
Will West Brom be promoted next season?
Yes!
No!
Having made 81 appearances in the Championship, he would bring a huge amount of experience at the age of just 24, so he would be a signing for the present and the future.
Many WBA fans took to Twitter to show their delight at the news of their club being in talks with the defender after it was relayed by Baggies reporter Joseph Masi.
What have these fans been saying?
“Could do with a good new defender tbf”
“Did well with Derby last season, started up by the skin of their teeth.”
“GET IN! MAASSSSIIIII!!!!”
“Reincarnation of Dawson”
“Left-footed in a back 3 who is arguably as good as people next to him is not a bad signing”
“MASIIIIIIIIIIIIIII”
Clarke is a left-footed centre back, which could allow Valerien Ismael to add balance to his side if he is wanting to deploy a back three next season – which was a system often used by the new Baggies boss at Barnsley last year.
At just 24 years old, Clarke has already made 261 senior appearances for clubs such as Ipswich Town, Portsmouth and Derby County.
The defender has also found the net 10 times, with nine of them coming during his time at Pompey, which may have prompted Brighton to buy him in 2019 – though it seems he could trade them for a different Albion this summer.