Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom is hoping to sign Ciaran Clark ‘pretty soon’ as the experienced defender leaves Premier League giants Newcastle United, speaking to Examiner Live.
A couple of weeks ago, The Athletic claimed that Newcastle were struggling to offload three players who have fallen out of favour since Eddie Howe replaced the much-maligned Steve Bruce in the St James’ Park hotseat.
Since then, Jeff Hendrick has joined Reading on loan. Clark, meanwhile, is heading to Brammal Lane. And while Dwight Gayle’s £40,000-a-week wages continue to scare off the likes of Middlesbrough and Watford, two out of three ain’t bad.
Clark is undergoing a medical at Sheffield United this week.
And the veteran centre-back – who joined Newcastle from Aston Villa to the tune of £5 million back in 2016 – could soon be forging a new-look defensive partnership with Anel Ahmedhodzic at a Blades side with promotion in their sights.
Newcastle’s Ciaran Clark closing in on Sheffield United move
“He’s played at international level, in this league and the one above,” Heckingbottom says, explaining why the chance to bring Clark to the Steel City appealed to him. “And also because he wanted to come here.
“We weren’t the only ones wanting to take him. But he wanted to come to us and we say all the time how important that is. If we get that over the line, it should be a good one for us.”
“It’s not definite but hopefully it will be pretty soon.
“He’s experienced, he’s got promotions out of this league. (He is) good in both boxes and gives us balance on the left-hand side with Robbo (Jack Robinson). So it ticks a lot of boxes for us.”
32-year-old Clark was left out of Howe’s 25-man squad for the second half of the Premier League season. And he fell even further down Newcastle’s pecking order following the arrival of the similarly left-footed Sven Botman from Lille.
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