West Bromwich Albion are reportedly keen on signing the Newcastle United centre-back.
West Brom currently sit in fifth spot in the Championship table, and if they are to make a sustained push for the automatic promotion spots in the second half of the season, Darren Moore will surely have to bolster his ranks at the Hawthorns in January.
According to the Daily Mail, one of the Baggies’ key targets is Newcastle defender Ciaran Clark, and whilst he would be a solid addition, is he really an upgrade on what Moore already has at his disposal?
The 29-year-old joined the Magpies from Aston Villa in the summer of 2016, for a fee believed to be worth in the region of £5.1 million, and he has gone on to make 65 appearances for the Toon.
Clark, who has been capped 32 times by the Republic of Ireland, is a decent all-round defender, but he has hardly been the most consistent performer for Newcastle over the past two years, and it is arguable that he isn’t any better than any of Craig Dawson, Ahmed Hegazy, Kyle Bartley or Tosin Adarabioyo.
The Baggies have conceded 30 league goals this season, however, so they do need to improve defensively.
That can be done with hard work on the training ground, though, and the signing of another centre-back will not always immediately improve defensive solidarity.
Clark is a a solid defender, but West Brom might just be wasting their time bringing him to the Hawthorns.
West Brom already have a solid bunch of central defenders, and Moore would be better served in focusing his efforts on getting the best out of them, rather than spending money on the Newcastle man.
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