£20m Ipswich Town star will lick his lips at Sheffield United transfer situation | OneFootball

Jack Clarke's performances for the Tractor Boys have subsequently impacted Jaden Philogene

Ipswich Town's remarkable run in the second half of the season eventually saw the club return to the Premier League at the first time of asking on the Championship final day.

Despite holding an advantage in terms of both points and goal-difference in comparison to the nearest challengers, Millwall, the Tractor Boys still had to see off Queens Park Rangers, and they did so in emphatic fashion.

In truth, their immediate return back to the top-flight was effectively rubber-stamped inside nine minutes when George Hirst and Jaden Philogene had both netted, only for the in-form Kasey McAteer to provide further gloss on a memorable day in the game's final minutes.

It means that Kieran McKenna's stock has continued to rise in Suffolk, having achieved the feat of three promotions in four seasons with the Blues, having started his managerial career with the club whilst they were a mid-table League One outfit in December 2021.

The Northern Irishman has already stated that Ipswich are better equipped for the challenge of the Premier League this time around than after their historic achievement of back-to-back promotions between 2023 and 2024, with several names within the squad featuring for Town in their frustrating relegation campaign last time out.

All the names who fall into said category have certainly seen their confidence restored to extremely high levels, meaning they will, no doubt, be embracing the challenge of consolidating in the top-flight.

That said, McKenna will also likely face some major dilemmas when it comes to the makeup of his squad in terms of who comes into the building and who may depart in pre-season.

There has already been rife speculation on both fronts, but one Town star may secretly love the exit talk surrounding Jack Clarke.

Jack Clarke linked with Sheffield United move despite impressing in Ipswich Town's promotion season

Much has been made of the strength-in-depth at McKenna's disposal across the board, exemplified by the wide options that include Jack Clarke and Jaden Philogene.

The former has endured a mixed career, and, indeed, a mixed spell at Portman Road thus far, having been recruited for an initial fee of £15m, plus £5m in potential add-ons, from Sunderland in August 2024.

Like many of his teammates, the former Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur winger struggled to make an impact in the top-flight as Ipswich were relegated on 20 points, whilst scoring just 36 goals all season in 2024/25.

However, this season, we have seen Clarke return to the best version of himself - the one which many can remember from his spell at the Stadium of Light too.

The 25-year-old has played a part in all 46 of Ipswich's promotion-winning season games, and despite only starting in exactly half, has had a tremendous impact with 16 goals and one assist across 2,380 minutes.

An encounter which typified his high-level ability was the recent 2-2 thriller at Southampton, where he netted once, and could have easily scored a hat-trick in just 23 minutes of action, were it not for the heroics of Saints keeper, Daniel Peretz.

With only three players scoring more goals this term than Clarke, McKenna has already backed him to fully adjust to the Premier League, although it has come to light that Sheffield United are monitoring his situation as the Blades prepare for a busy summer rebuild under Chris Wilder.

United finished 13th after the 58-year-old significantly addressed what was a disastrous start under Ruben Selles, and could be forced to reshuffle his attack given interest in Gustavo Hamer and Tyrese Campbell, as well as the pending departure of Danny Ings.

Jaden Philogene may secretly love Jack Clarke, Ipswich Town exit talk

Philogene has, to a degree, been in a similar boat to Clarke in his career thus far, despite being one year younger.

The England youth international has excelled in the second tier for the likes of Cardiff City, Stoke City, Hull City and now Ipswich, having signed at Portman Road for £20m from Aston Villa, as his second spell in B6 didn't go to plan.

He, of course, has been capable of featuring on either flank, but with many seeing his best position as a left-sided winger, Clarke's performances have also hindered Philogene in terms of minutes, even if you take a two-month injury absence into account.

Despite scoring 12 times and posting two more assists in 35 appearances - 24 of which were starts - some have argued that they haven't seen the London-born man at his best, which may be a slight concern heading to the Premier League.

However, if Clarke was to exit despite featuring in more matches and, statistically speaking, having a greater impact, Philogene would fancy his chances of proving those sceptics wrong and showing that he does, eventually, have what it takes to be a consistent top-level performer himself.