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da 888： This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Tottenham Hotspur are set to sign Jack Clarke from Leeds United this summer, per the London Evening Standard.
The teenager is set to remain at the club throughout next season, instead of returning to the Whites on loan.
On the chalkboard
Can Clarke actually make the cut under Mauricio Pochettino in 2019/20?
He made his breakthrough under Marcelo Bielsa at Elland Road this term, making a total of 25 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice and registering two assists.
And yet he made just four starts in the second-tier as Leeds reached the play-offs, only to lose to Frank Lampard’s Derby County.
Per WhoScored, Clarke averaged 0.8 shots per game, 0.7 key passes and was fouled just 0.5 times. He also averaged 1.1 dribbles across the 90 minutes, while he made 1.1 unsuccessful touches in every game.
Defensively, the teenager is actually pretty appalling; he averages 0.5 tackles per game, 0.5 fouls, 0.1 interceptions and 0.2 clearances.
But to focus on his defensive stats is to miss the point; he was allowed the freedom to attack by Bielsa.
And yet he makes just 0.2 crosses and has a pass completion rate of 75.9%.
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Much improvement needed
Clarke will need to get better if he joins Spurs, but that is to be expected.
He’s just 18 and has less than one full season of senior professional football under his belt.
There is every chance, though, that Pochettino can polish a rather rough diamond.
Clarke isn’t as effective as he could be in the final third and nor is he particularly inclined to track back.
But work ethic is vital at Spurs and he will have to improve in pretty much every area if he is to make an impact at the club.
If he does join though, he will be working with a manager who flourishes on bringing the best out of young players – Dele Alli is a prime example – and seeing them thrive.
If Clarke knuckles down at Spurs and takes on board the undoubted wisdom that Pochettino can impart, then he has every chance of making it.