Sheffield United sent clear Ipswich Town transfer warning - 'it's too ambitious' | OneFootball

FLW's Sheffield United fan pundit has given his verdict on the potential pursuit of Jack Clarke this summer

Sheffield United will be hoping to return to promotion contention next season under Chris Wilder.

The Blades endured an underwhelming campaign in which they finished 13 points adrift of the play-off places.

The Yorkshire outfit reached the play-off final 12 months ago, losing to Sunderland at Wembley Stadium, but haven’t even come inside the top half of the table this term.

Wilder oversaw a 13th place finish after returning to the club in September, just months after his departure.

It is likely to be a busy summer ahead at Bramall Lane, with Wilder keen to build a team capable of getting back into the fight for promotion to the Premier League.

It has already been reported by The Star that Ipswich Town winger Jack Clarke back is on the club’s radar ahead of the transfer market opening next month.

Jack Clarke could be a bridge too far for Sheffield United

When asked about the potential signing of Clarke this summer, FLW’s Sheffield United fan pundit Jimmy claimed that he would gladly welcome the winger to Bramall Lane.

However, he is sceptical that the club could convince him to join the club at this stage, particularly as they will no longer have the benefit of parachute payments.

“I’m not sure about this one,” Jimmy told Football League World.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m very sure about Jack Clarke.

“I think he fills a hole that we think will be vacated by Gus Hamer on the left-hand side.

“He’s been in and out of the Ipswich side this season, which just shows how much strength and depth they’ve had, but he walks into our side. The fact we’ve lost parachute payments now as well, I think it’s a little too ambitious for us, that one.

“I’m not sure we wouldn’t be beaten by clubs that could offer more money. Ultimately, it’s what it comes to at the moment.

“But if he’s wanting a starting berth in the Championship for a side that’s looking to push into the play-offs, then he’s welcome at beautiful downtown Bramall Lane.”

Clarke joined Ipswich in the 2024 summer transfer window from Sunderland following their promotion to the Premier League.

However, he struggled for consistent form in the top flight, which played a role in the Suffolk outfit finishing 19th, and coming straight back down to the Championship.

The 25-year-old contributed four assists, while failing to score a single goal, from 32 top flight appearances.

Yet he was a key part of Kieran McKenna’s side as they finished second in the table this season, scoring 16 times from 46 games.

Clarke has a contract with Ipswich until June 2029, and he could yet play an important role for the Suffolk outfit in the Preimer League next season.

But he also faces competition for game time from Jaden Philogene, and it remains to be seen who will be chosen as first-choice going forward.

McKenna will be keen to build a team capable of improving on the 19th place finish from their last campaign in the first division, which could lead to Clarke falling down the pecking order.

Sheffield United will be hoping this opens the door to his exit from Portman Road, as they look to bolster their attacking options amid the uncertainty surrounding Gus Hamer’s future.

Jack Clarke signing will be tough to get over the line for Sheffield United

Clarke and Philogene traded the starting berth at Ipswich last season, but the former proved the more lethal option and should be McKenna’s first choice between the two.

However, the Tractor Boys could yet still seek further improvements to the squad in that area in the coming summer market, so it’s far from guaranteed that he’ll be part of the club’s plans for next season.

If the opportunity to sign Clarke arises then Sheffield United should put themselves in the market for his signature, as he’d be a great addition.

But it might be a bit too ambitious at this stage to actually pull off, as it’s questionable whether he’d want to take the step back down to the Championship at this stage of his career.