Former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Paul Robinson has suggested Leeds United loanee Jack Clarke will leave the club in January following the appointment of Jose Mourinho.
Spurs signed the 18-year-old from the Yorkshire club for a reported fee in the region of £10 million in the summer and sent him back on a season-long loan.
The winger has not featured once in the Championship in the 2019/20 campaign and has instead been restricted to two Carabao Cup appearances.
It is understood that there is a January recall clause in Clarke's deal and at this point, it seems likely the Premier League club will use it.
Spurs fired manager Mauricio Pochettino earlier this week and brought in Mourinho as his replacement.
Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson suggested the Portuguese coach's arrival makes it more likely that Clarke will be recalled.
He explained: "It’s probably good news for Jack. He won’t want to be at Leeds, be unhappy and not play, so it’s probably a good thing for Jack.
"It gives him a fresh start, a new opportunity and if Mourinho is not able to buy anyone in January I’m sure he’ll bring him into his first-team squad.
“He’ll probably want to go back in January so the manager can have a look at him.
“As a player, if you’re out on loan and away from it all, you can maybe feel a little bit detached and a little bit out of it all. So I think he’s wanting to get back and probably wanting to show the manager what he can do.”
Leeds have fared well without any contributions from Clarke so far and are third in the Championship as things stand–only outside the automatic promotion places on goal difference.
A win against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on Saturday could see the Whites move to the top of the table, should Preston North End and West Bromwich Albion slip up.
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The Verdict
It seems like a really frustrating position that Clarke finds himself in and despite the reports of recent talks with Marcelo Bielsa, he will surely be looking to leave in January.
He returned to Elland Road for more first-team experience and he just isn't getting that. Bielsa's selection thus far has indicated that the teenager is low down in the pecking order–you'd imagine he will be looking to leave.
Even so, I can't see him getting a place in the Spurs' first team and I'm not sure the arrival of Mourinho changes that at all.
The Portuguese manager doesn't exactly have the best record with raw, young forwards–just ask Anthony Martial.