Sheffield United eyeing Ipswich Town transfer deal - it's not Jack Clarke | OneFootball

Sheffield United's interest in an Ipswich Town transfer agreement has emerged - and it's not Jack Clarke...

Sheffield United are eager to complete a transfer reunion with Ipswich Town to take Harry Clarke back to Bramall Lane in next month's mid-season window, as Chris Wilder looks to revamp his squad and take the Blades up the league table.

As reported on Tuesday afternoon by the East Anglian Daily Times, United are looking to prise the defender away from Ipswich Town and to South Yorkshire for a second occasion, with Clarke having spent the second-half of the previous campaign on loan in the red-and-white quarters of the Steel City.

The ever-approaching January transfer window is poised to be a busy one for the Blades. As first revealed exclusively by Football League World last month, United are now undertaking conversations to terminate the loan deals of both Louie Barry and Ben Godfrey from Aston Villa and Atalanta respectively, while question marks remain over the future of Nottingham Forest loanee Tyler Bindon following his recent emergence in Wilder's side.

Wilder swiftly returned to Bramall Lane just months on from his sacking in the wake of last season's agonising play-off final defeat to Sunderland, replacing his successor Ruben Selles following a disastrous start to the season.

United's squad was, of course, assembled under the Spaniard's watch throughout the summer, and Wilder will know he has work to do on all fronts in order to help the Blades climb the Championship table in the latter stages of the campaign.

Sheffield United eyeing up Ipswich Town, Harry Clarke transfer reunion

As per the aforementioned report, Sheffield United are keen to seal a reunion with Clarke once the transfer window commences next month.

It remains unclear whether the Blades are targeting a temporary or permanent swoop after landing Clarke's services on loan last January, at which point Ipswich were competing for survival in the Premier League. The 24-year-old full-back endured a disappointing time with Wilder's side, making just six appearances in the promotion run-in before seeing his spell curtailed in April with a recurring foot injury.

Clarke suffered a fresh setback on the treatment table ahead of the start of the current campaign by picking up a knee injury but is yet to feature under Kieran McKenna this term, despite the Northern Irishman describing the defender as "available for selection" all the way back in September.

Instead, Clarke has found himself playing with Ipswich's under-21 side in Premier League 2 ahead of a likely exit from Portman Road next month, having seemingly slipped down the pecking order to McKenna's third-choice right-back behind Ben Johnson and summer arrival Darnell Furlong.

United's interest in Clarke comes amid reports linking the Blades with a move for namesake Jack Clarke, with McKenna swiftly downplaying such speculation involving the Tractor Boys winger.

Sheffield United would be taking transfer risk with Ipswich Town's Harry Clarke - it could be worth it

At his best, Clarke is a consistent, steadying influence at right-back who can have an impact at both ends of the pitch, and he possesses crucial promotion-winning expertise after featuring prominently in Ipswich's successive ascension from League One to the Premier League.

Since the 2023/24 campaign, however, in which he appeared 39 times across all competitions, Clarke has only made 14 appearances. Injuries have been an issue, of course, while his struggle for regular match minutes at Ipswich have also hindered his progression.

Wilder won't want players who aren't ready to instantly hit the ground running, especially given the lack of impact from so many of the club's summer signings, so the Bramall Lane faithful may not be all-too-fearful over his recent shortage in game time.

There's also the fact that Wilder is very familiar with Clarke and evidently sees a role for him with the Blades, having already signed him less than twelve months ago, and the Ipswich defender could prove to be a shrewd potential piece of business if United can get a deal done and keep him fit.

He would offer much-needed competition for the impressive Femi Seriki, too, which will be crucial if the Blades are to turn around their fortunes and stake a late claim for play-off contention.