Jack Clarke’s name is being mentioned alongside Nottingham Forest again, but Premier League outfits have also been added to the mix.
That is according to Football Insider.
They claim that a promising winger struggling for game time back at Leeds is set to return to parent club Tottenham in January.
Another switch will be sanctioned for the 19-year-old in the New Year.
Could he end up at the City Ground?
Football Insider report: “Nottingham Forest have been credited with an interest in the winger but they are one of many in England’s second tier keen on him, as well as a few teams in the Premier League.”
Competition for Clarke should come as no surprise.
There is clearly a player there.
Spurs did not blindly snap him up over the summer, with it possible that agreement could end up costing them £13 million.
Faith
An initial outlay of £10m, as reported by The Sun, is a sizeable show of faith.
The problem facing Clarke at the moment is that he is not getting the chance to prove his worth.
He has seen just 19 minutes of Championship football this season.
That is a concern for those casting admiring glances in his direction.
Rust will need to be shaken off before true colours are seen, but a bit of patience could be richly rewarded.
There is no reason why Forest should not be the ones to benefit from Clarke’s presence.
He would not even have to arrive at the City Ground as a regular starter.
The youngster has shown in the past that he can be an impact option off the bench.
His energy could be a useful weapon up Sabri Lamouchi’s sleeve.
Forest have not been favouring a system which embraces out-and-out wingers, so Clarke can offer something different.
Alongside the likes of Sammy Ameobi and Albert Adomah.
Spark
__VIDEO__
If Joe Lolley tires, as he still searches for a spark in 2019-20, then Clarke can be introduced in his place.
He would arrive on Trentside with something of a point to prove.
Having seen his stock soar, to the point that he was acquired by a Premier League heavyweight, he needs to ensure that he does not slip out of football’s collective conscious.
His next port of call will, quite obviously, depend on the options put to him.
If he is, as suggested, given the chance to link up with a top-flight side, then such an opportunity would be tough to turn down.
Forest, though, will hopefully have a promotion push to use as a trump card in any approach they are planning.
Clarke knows all about the second tier – finding the target during an outing at the City Ground back in January – and may feel that familiarity will serve his development best.
It is certainly worth the Reds asking the question.
They may not get the answer they are after, but attacking additions are being sought and any with prior experience of English football will put ticks in important boxes.
Receive a digest of our best Nottingham Forest content each week direct to your mailbox
