Jack Clarke signing and loan a solid bit of business for Tottenham
By Gary Pearson
Daniel Levy receives an inordinate amount of criticism for the way he goes about club business, but the shrewd chairman deserves credit for his handling of the Jack Clarke signing.
Full disclosure first, though: The club is yet to confirm the signing but all reports suggest that announcement is imminent, merely a matter of a few days away.
The deal, said to be worth £10 million with an additional £1.5 million included as achievement-oriented bonuses, will be Spurs’ first signing of a senior team player in over 500 days. The term “senior team player” is used in the loosest terms in this case, as Clarke, until November, is still only 18 years old.
The Guardian reports that Clarke will be shipped directly back to Leeds on a temporary loan spell.
The move makes perfect sense, as the youngster needs first team football, something that would prove near impossible at Tottenham next season.
Only starting four matches with Leeds in the Championship last season, Clarke’s progression was hampered severely by an illness that led to his collapse in a February match away to Middlesbrough. The Telegraph confirmed that Clarke, in the chilling events at the Riverside, suffered “some sort of a seizure”.
The shifty dribbler made a full recovery from the illness and impressed mightily during his abbreviated on-field time.
Levy deserves credit for providing Clarke the platform to play regularly on a team that has every chance of gaining Premier League promotion. He’ll develop physically while playing in the Championship, known to be one of the most demanding, gruelling professional leagues in Europe.
The best part of the arrangement is knowing Clarke, no matter how well Leeds perform, will be coming back to Tottenham permanently at some stage. Unlike the Jack Grealish and Aston Villa situation, Tottenham can back Leeds’ for Premier League promotion, knowing their investment is completely safe and secure.
Clarke has a lot to learn before stepping into Spurs’ senior side, and a full season devoid of injury and illness will benefit him, and his new club, greatly in the long-term.
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Levy is castigated readily about his aversion to spending money, but signing a player of Clarke’s potential for £10 million is a resoundingly advantageous deal for Tottenham, and, even though it’s a comparatively piddling sum of money, the chairman still deserves praise for making it happen.
As long as Tottenham sign a suitable right back, who can impact senior side proceedings immediately, to replace Kieran Trippier and the ever-injured Serge Aurier, this will go down as an astute bit of business that will benefit the club for years to come.