Marcelo Bielsa is right to give ‘cold shoulder’ to Jack Clarke as sixth Leeds United loanee

Wed 18 September 2019 21:15, UK

It has not been a great start to the season for Leeds United winger Jack Clarke. The talented attacker agreed to join Tottenham Hotspur in the summer in a deal worth £10 million.

He was then loaned back to Leeds United for the 2019-20 season but has so far been struggling for game-time at Elland Road. EFL rules dictate that no club can have more than five loanees in a matchday squad and with Leeds having six on their books, Clarke has been the one missing out.

The result is a report today which suggests Tottenham will recall Clarke in January.Clarke will then be loaned out again and is unhappy with Marcelo Bielsa seemingly giving him the ‘cold shoulder’.

But Bielsa is absolutely right to leave Clarke out when it comes to his loan options.

(Photo by Ian Cook – CameraSport via Getty Images)

Leeds United have five other loanees – Ben White, Jack Harrison, Helder Costa, Eddie Nketiah, Ilan Meslier.

White is shining at Leeds and is not currently a first-team fixture at parent club Brighton. Leeds will have hopes of keeping him at the club. The same goes for Harrison and Costa. Meslier, whilst playing as back-up to number one keeper Kiko Casilla, is just 19 and could be the future of Leeds’ goalkeeping options. Meanwhile, while Arsenal are unlikely to sell Nketiah to Leeds, another loan spell might be likely and he is scoring goals for fun.

Clarke, of all the six loanees, is the least likely to have a long-term future at Elland Road. He already showed that in the summer, by signing for another team.

Bielsa is looking after the club by considering Clarke bottom of the pile when it comes to the loan options at his disposal.

That should be painfully obvious to Clarke and his advisors and it might be for the best if the teenager is found a new home in January.

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Marcelo Bielsa is right to give ‘cold shoulder’ to Jack Clarke as sixth Leeds United loanee