Sheffield United weigh up ambitious Ipswich Town transfer swoop | OneFootball

Sheffield United have expressed interest in Ipswich Town wideman Jack Clarke

Sheffield United have enquired about the availability of Ipswich Town winger Jack Clarke.

This is per a report from the Sheffield Star, who state that the Blades are looking to the 25-year-old as a way to kickstart their January business and replace Louie Barry, whose loan spell from Aston Villa is effectively over due to a mixture of being unfavoured and a knee injury.

Clarke has been a victim of the abundance of quality that Ipswich have out wide this season, which he ultimately contributes to. He's played a part in all the Tractor Boys' 22 Championship games this season, but has only started nine times.

That being said, he's still contributed seven goals, including one in each game against the Sheffield clubs in the opening half of the campaign.

Sheffield United are evidently targeting top-quality second-tier operators to give themselves a boost heading into an outside run at the play-offs during the second half of the season.

Sheffield United enquire about Jack Clarke

Former Leeds United academy product Clarke is on Sheffield United's shortlist for January additions next month, according to a report from the Sheffield Star.

The Blades are on the hunt for a new winger, after Chris Wider confirmed that Louie Barry's loan is likely to be terminated due mainly to an ongoing knee issue.

However, with Barry only making one start under the returning boss, following five consecutive under Ruben Selles, the writing was likely on the wall for the Villa loanee before he sustained his injury.

Clarke arrived at Ipswich from Sunderland in August 2024 for £15 million, and after a rough opening campaign in which he was unable to score his first Premier League goal, despite 32 appearances, he's started to come into his own once more in the Championship.

The 25-year-old has seven goals this season, one of which came in Ipswich's 5-0 demolition of Sheffield United in September, the game which saw Ruben Selles lose his job and Chris Wilder subsequently hired for the third time at Bramall Lane.

Despite his goalscoring ventures, he's struggled for regular starts due mainly to Jaden Philogene's excellence on the left side this season, where Clarke operates best. Because of this, though, the former Sunderland man has the fourth-best goals-per-90 in the second tier this season.

Nonetheless, he's still a key part of Kieran McKenna's side, and the Star believes that it'll be a tough task to pry the wideman away from Portman Road, who is still under contract until the summer of 2029.

Sheffield United showing early January transfer ambition in race for play-offs

After a dire start to the campaign, which saw eight defeats in their opening nine Championship games, Sheffield United are starting to gain a head of steam, and since that eighth defeat against Hull City on October 4, the Blades have picked up the fifth-most points in the Championship, and only six fewer than the impressive Coventry City.

Chris Wilder's side may still be 18th, but they come into Christmas just nine points off the top six and buoyed by an impressive home win over Birmingham City.

With still half a season to play, Sheffield United have the momentum and the quality in-house to make a late run at the top six, but it seems like the higher-ups at Bramall Lane will be doing all they can to not only rectify a poor summer window but also increase the chances of finishing in the play-offs come May.

A move for Clarke may prove a step too far, but it shows ambition and the level of player that the Blades are looking to target this January.

If they can pull off a few signings of that ilk in the next month, Chris Wilder's side will be a force to be reckoned with, and those who hold a place in the top six will be cautiously looking over their shoulders as they quickly climb back up the table.