Bristol City lead Sheffield United and Stoke City in Ipswich Town transfer race | OneFootball

A wealth of clubs are chasing the 25-year-old defender.

Bristol City are primed for a new era with Michael Skubala set to lead the club into the 2026/27 Championship season.

The Robins will be targeting a top-eight finish at a minimum, which would secure a play-off finish after finishing last term in mid-table.

It has been a busy transfer window already at Ashton Gate with Sam Greenwood and Lisav Naif Eissat arriving for transfer fees, while Sam Tickle and Jed Wallace are among several players to arrive on a free transfer.

Now, Bristol City have been linked with an Ipswich City defender, but it appears they will face a raft of competition for his signature.

Bristol City lead Championship pursuit for Ipswich Town's Harry Clarke

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With expectations high at Ashton Gate ahead of the new season, the club are striving to build a squad capable of challenging for promotion.

Bristol City are the longest-serving Championship team, and while they flirted with the play-offs last term, they ultimately fell short, with Roy Hosgon drafted in to build some stability.

In Skubala, the club have a manager who did an outstanding job of taking Lincoln City to the second tier for the first time in the club's history, but he is unproven at this level.

He will need players with Championship experience, and that is clearly a priority with the likes of Greenwood and Wallace arriving at Ashton Gate.

Now, Bristol City are the most advanced in the pursuit of Ipswich's Harry Clarke, while Stoke CitySheffield United and Preston North End are also interested, according to Ben Jacobs.

The 25-year-old right-back has one year remaining on his contract, and Jacobs adds that a permanent exit is most likely this summer.

What would Clarke bring to Ashton Gate?

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Clarke joined the Tractor Boys from Arsenal in January 2023, and while he has made 67 appearances for the club since then, he did not feature once for them in the Championship last term.

The defender joined fellow second-tier side Charlton Athletic on loan in January to aid their survival bid and address their defensive injury crisis, making 19 appearances and assisting twice.

Clarke has made 78 Championship appearances in his career during spells with Ipswich, Charlton, Sheffield United and Stoke and can play across the backline as well as on the wing if required.