Leeds has been linked with a bid for former player Jack Clarke.
Leeds United have been warned that they may have to pay more than £20 million to get Jack Clarke this summer, and even if they do, the youngster may not be ready for Premier League football if they win promotion this season. That is the assessment of former England player Chris Waddle, who has questioned Clarke’s capacity to break through in English football’s top flight.
While this is not an immediate concern for Leeds, the club hopes to return to the Premier League next season and is factoring this into some of their recruitment plans. Leeds have been widely associated with Clarke in recent days, as the Sunderland man is a former Whites player who has found a new level at the Stadium of Light.
With speculation around a potential Clarke transfer, Waddle believes the Black Cats should want more than £20 million for the player, but this would be risky for Leeds.
“In the modern day market, people will be looking at about £20 million,” Waddle told Football League World.
“The question mark refers to whether he is a Premier League footballer. I haven’t seen him play against Premier League footballers, but I have watched him play against a number of Championship sides, which is probably why clubs are hesitant to spend big money right now since he hasn’t played at the highest level.
“I saw him play against Newcastle in the FA Cup last year against Kieran Trippier, and he didn’t get much of a kick. Obviously, Newcastle is the superior team overall, but I thought it was a terrific test for him. When he had the ball, nothing much happened.
“Because he has never played in the Premier League, many people may consider him a gamble at £20 million or whatever they are looking for. I’m not denying that he’s talented, and he’s extremely excellent in the Championship, but the Premier level is a whole different level.”
