Exclusive: Derby County & Middlesbrough plot to sign Leeds player Bielsa resigned to losing

Exclusive: Derby County & Middlesbrough plot to sign Leeds player Bielsa resigned to losing

Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

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Derby County and Middlesbrough are plotting to sign Jack Clarke in January as Leeds United face up to losing their academy product for good, Football Insider has learned.

The 19-year-old's future is up in the air ahead of next month's transfer window as he's been stuck on the fringes of his loan club all season.

Sources at Derby and Middlesbrough have told Football Insider they are keen to take available of his potential availability and loan him for the second half of the campaign.

Fulham are also keen on the winger, who joined Tottenham for £9.5million in the summer before being loaned straight back to Leeds.

Football Insider revealed earlier this month that the Premier League giants are expected to activate the mid-season recall clause in Clarke's loan deal.

Marcelo Bielsa does not want to lose the teenage star but is resigned to doing so as Tottenham will have the final say next month.

The Argentine actually believes Clarke has made improvements to his game this season during training sessions at the club's Thorp Arch headquarters.

But Spurs want the young attacker to get regular game time at Championship level in order to develop.

There is now set to be a January stampede for the services of Clarke.

He has had to make do with just three Leeds appearances this season, two of which have come in the League Cup.

The United academy product has not started a Championship match and has had just one 19-minute sub appearance in the competition.

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