Ipswich Town are reportedly closing in on the signing of Arsenal defender Harry Clarke, according to the East Anglian Daily Times.

It is a move which would see Clarke return to the club where he started his career, coming through the youth ranks at Portman Road before joining the Gunners aged 14.

Clarke has spent the first half of this season on loan at Championship side Stoke City, making 20 appearances in all competitions during his time at the bet365 Stadium, scoring two goals and registering one assist.

The 21-year-old will arrive in East Anglia on a permanent basis and it will be something of a coup as Clarke has been a regular in the second tier for the Potters in recent weeks.

Tractor Boys manager Kieran McKenna did not deny the club were nearing a new addition, with Clarke set to become their fourth signing of what has been a busy transfer window.

"There’s nothing definite yet but we are working behind the scenes and think we’re not too far away from one possible addition, which we’d be really pleased about," McKenna told the East Anglian Daily Times.

Clarke has previously had temporary stints with Oldham Athletic, Ross County and Hibernian and he will bring versatility to McKenna's squad as he is capable of playing both centre-half and right-back, while he has also been deployed at right-wing back for the Potters this campaign.

The Tractor Boys currently sit third in the League One table, seven points behind leaders Plymouth Argyle and five points behind second-placed Sheffield Wednesday and they will be looking to return to winning ways after three consecutive draws when they make the trip to face Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday.

 

 

The verdict

Clarke will be an excellent signing for Ipswich.

Defensive reinforcements did not seem a particular priority for McKenna, with right-backs Janoi Donacien and Kane Vincent-Young already on the books and Luke Woolfenden, Cameron Burgess, George Edmundson and Richard Keogh all competing for places at centre-half, but Clarke could prove to be a useful asset as the season progresses.

He is the fourth player the Tractor Boys will have signed this month who spent the first half of the campaign in the Championship after the arrivals of Massimo Luongo, George Hirst and Nathan Broadhead, adding to what was already a squad full of quality.

It will be intriguing to see whether he can force his way in to what has been an incredibly settled back four, but there is no doubt of Clarke's ability and this looks like another good bit of business.