Can We Defend This Very Latest Town Move?

Harry Clarke, who through the youth ranks at Playford Road and hails from Ipswich, is close to signing for Town again, according to multiple reports.  He has been on loan with Championship club  Stoke City but was recalled by his parent club Arsenal today, with a view to a transfer to the Blues for a fee said to be around one million pounds.

The 21-year-old left Town for the  Premiership leader’s youth set-up way back in 2015. Clarke was with Brantham Athletic before joining Town’s academy. At the time, he was a midfielder but now operates as either a centre-half or right-back. In August 2018, he signed his first professional contract with the Gunners, which was renewed in 2019.

In October 2020, Clarke joined Oldham Athletic on a loan deal until January 2021. The same month he came off the bench in the 85th minute and made his debut for the Latics in a 1–1 draw against Carlisle United in League Two and acquitted himself well.

In August 2021, he was on his travels again as Arsenal loaned him out to Scottish Premier League side Ross County for the whole of the 2021–22 season. The loan ended on the 3rd of January 2022, but his time over the border was not over, and in January 2022, he was again out on loan with Hibernian, in the top flight of Scottish football.

The loan arrangement had been due to run for 18 months, but Arsenal exercised the right to break a clause in the deal in June 2022, when Stoke City came in with the promise of a season-long loan for the defender. To date, he has made 10 starts and 10 substitute appearances, for the Potters and has found the net twice. Their manager Alex Neil has admitted that loans are the most likely source of new blood – unless the club can recoup a fee by selling the right player. Clarke was dropped to the bench in their 3-1 defeat to second-placed Championship club Sheffield United on Saturday, and this was the first indication that a move might be on the cards again.

Harry Clark is the younger brother of forward George Clarke, who was with the Town academy during the 2013/14 season, and he is seen primarily as cover for Janoi Donacien on the right side of the Town defence.  Having played some Championship football, and having played in the Scottish Premier League with two different clubs, he should be sufficiently well-grounded to fit in here with Ipswich.  I suppose the only question is, is he worth a million quid? Your thoughts on the subject are most welcome.