Exclusive: Leeds star wanted by PL clubs to tell Bielsa he wants to quit this week

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Published on:

24 Jun 2019, 1:30 am

EXCLUSIVE By Wayne Veysey

Jack Clarke is ready to tell Leeds United chiefs this week he wants to quit and join Tottenham, Football Insider can reveal.

The Championship giants have held extensive talks with the Premier League powerhouses about the transfer of the winger, 18, in recent weeks.

Football Insider broke the news last week that Tottenham have tabled two bids for Clarke, the second of which was of £8million after their opening offer was rejected.

It falls a long way short of Leeds' £20million valuation of their academy product, but Spurs are hopeful of making up some of the difference with performance-related add-ons.

Tottenham also believe that Clarke's desire to make the move to north London can help smooth negotiations and enable them to reach an agreement soon.

The teenager is set to tell Leeds, including manager Marcelo Bielsa, that he wants to take the next step in a hugely promising career by quitting the club he joined as a schoolboy.

Clarke also has interest from the likes of Bournemouth and Southampton, but Tottenham are at the front of the queue to land him after Football Insider first broke the news last month they are working on a deal following encouragement that he could be lured away this summer.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has given the green light for the club to pursue Clarke this summer as he looks to increase the quota of home-grown stars at the club.

Clarke was fast-tracked into the Leeds first team by Bielsa last season and made a huge impact with some dazzling cameos in his 25 appearances, which included just five league starts.

In other Leeds United news, it can be REVEALED that the club have made real progress in bid to sign 21-year-old top of Bielsa’s transfer list.

Tottenham Hotspur

Leeds United