Leeds United opinion: Will Matt Clarke be a good signing for Leeds?

According to a report from the Derbyshire Times, Leeds United are targeting Portsmouth’s highly-rated centre-back, Matt Clarke. The report reveals that a fee of £4million will be enough to convince Pompey to let their star defender leave in the summer.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side are on course to achieve Premier League qualification, thanks to their brilliant performances this season. The Whites have lost just 9 games all season and are currently in second place.

If they manage to stay there until the end of the season, Leeds United will gain automatic qualification to the Premier League for the first time in 15 years.

Bielsa will hope for a strong end to the season but the club need to think ahead in terms of transfers. Leeds will have to strengthen in the summer despite having done a decent job this campaign.

Skipper Liam Cooper and Pontus Jansson have cemented their places as the club’s first choices but Leeds will need adequate backups for the duo. Gaetano Berardi will turn 31 in the summer and Aapo Halme is far too inexperienced to take on the responsibility.

Leeds have made an incredibly smart choice in targeting Matt Clarke and the 22-year-old can help them massively next season. Clarke has started every game for Pompey in a brilliant campaign which might see them get promoted.

Clarke has been a massive presence in the centre of Portsmouth’s defence and has helped his side keep 11 clean sheets so far. The youngster has been highly impressive for some time now and even won the Players’ player of the year award at the end of last season.

The 22-year-old, despite only being 6ft 1in tall, is fantastic in the air and rarely comes second in an aerial duel. Clarke is a very physical player and is often seen getting stuck in to recover the ball from the opponent.

The defender is quite good with his feet too and is often seen driving into the opposition half. Clarke is also solid in possession and uses his body very well to hold off an opposition player.

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Conclusion

Leeds United need to look at the future after an incredible campaign and signing Matt Clarke will put their defence in safe hands.

The youngster should improve under Bielsa and in time, will fight for a starting role at the club. Leeds should sign the youngster without having any second thoughts.