Stoke City leading transfer chase for 29-year-old | OneFootball

Stoke City are in pole position to sign St Johnstone goalkeeper Zander Clark, according to The Courier.

The 29-year-old’s contract at the Saints came to an end when the 2021-22 Scottish Premiership season concluded, and he is now free to talk to other clubs after making it clear that he wishes to explore a new challenge.

And it is the Potters of the EFL Championship who are leading the race to secure his services ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

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City boss Michael O’Neill currently has two stoppers at his disposal in Josef Bursik and Jack Bonham, but revealed recently that he is seeking a fresh face to compete with the duo.

And despite St Johnstone’s league rivals Dundee United making an approach for Clark last month, they look set to lose out to English competition.

Clark, who came through the academy of St Johnstone, played 170 times in league competition throughout his career for the club, kept 14 clean sheets in all competitions this past season, and earned his first call-up to the senior Scotland squad in August 2021.

The Verdict

Clark is clearly a talented stopper north of the border, but there’s no guarantee that he would get regular game-time at Stoke.

Josef Bursik is a talented young goalkeeper and for him to continue progressing, Michael O’Neill will need to start him week in, week out.

That wasn’t always the case though at the Bet365 Stadium last season, with Bonham coming in for the 21-year-old for a portion of the campaign, and perhaps O’Neill sees someone like Clark as a player who can keep both players on their toes.

If they do secure a deal for Clark, then competition for the starting jersey at the Potters next season will be more fierce than ever.