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According to reports in The Portsmouth News, Leeds United are interested in signing Matt Clarke.
The Portsmouth centre-back has had a stellar campaign down in League One, and he has a whole host of Championship clubs chasing his signature.
Clarke’s style
The 6 ft 2 defender does have an intimidating physical presence at the back, but it’s his ability on the ball that catches the eye when you watch him.
The youngster is incredibly confident in possession, and you often see him dribbling out from the back before making a pass to kickstart an attack.
His goal against Crawley in the Checkatrade Trophy a couple of years ago highlights this. The defender made a jinking run from his own half, beating three men before passing to his teammate, who took a shot which was spilt into the path of Clarke to apply the finish.
He seems like the perfect defender for Marcelo Bielsa’s system, but the fact that he is just 22 years of age means that he could be converted into a midfield player.
Jansson or Phillips leaving
There has been plenty of speculation about departures at Elland Road.
Phil Hay recently said that he expects one big name to leave the club this summer, but nobody has been able to pinpoint exactly who it will be. Kalvin Phillips, Pontus Jansson and Jack Clarke seem to be the three most likely candidates, and the signing of Matt Clarke could open the door for either Jansson or Phillips to go.
Of course, Clarke is a centre-half by trade, but his attributes seem very well suited for the defensive midfield role in Bielsa’s system.
He’s a top class ball carrier and is also a defensive wall, so there is no reason that under the tutelage of Bielsa he can’t be utilised in a midfield role.
It may be all dependant on which player leaves this summer, but if the Whites sign Clarke and there suddenly becomes a gap in a defensive midfield role or as a centre-back, he could competently cover either position.