EXCLUSIVE: Leeds legend & Jack Clarke agent Ian Harte drops cryptic message about player on social media as £20m links to Elland Road gathers pace

Leeds United are being heavily linked with a move to bring Sunderland’s Jack Clarke back to Elland Road before the deadline on August 30, and Ian Harte has posted a message on social media.

Leeds are in the market for a number of new signings before the deadline. The club are said to have raked in transfer fees of nearly £140m this summer, with Luis Sinisterra’s move back-dated until this summer. Georginio Rutter completed a club-record move to Brighton, while retaining club-record status at Elland Road. Archie Gray and Crysencio Summerville made debuts for Spurs and West Ham over the weekend.

With eight players sold this summer, five leaving on loan and plenty more departing at the end of their Elland Road contracts, Leeds need new signings and have the money to do so with Clarke a key target.

With Summerville gone, Leeds need a left winger and 23-year-old Clarke has been identified. The wide man is considered one of the best wingers outside of the Premier League, scoring 15 goals last season. Leeds are in the mix to sign Clarke but Premier League clubs sit ahead of Leeds in the queue. Graeme Bailey has told LeedsUnited.News that Clarke is keen on a move to Leeds and a fee of £20m is required.

Elland Road icon Harte is Clarke’s agent and amid links of Clarke’s return, the former left-back has posted a photo that shows Clarke has produced the most Championship involvements since the start of 2022-23.

The 49ers have put Leeds fans through the mill this summer. Selling Elland Road wonderkid Gray, then the Championship Player of the Season Summerville and now fan favourite Rutter, fans are annoyed. Especially, with Leeds winless from three games this season and seemingly yet to make any significant movements in the transfer window. With nine days to go, fans are becoming increasingly concerned.

There are gaps all over the pitch and right now, this side lacks the quality to finish in the top two places in the Championship. A big signing is needed for fans to start cheering again, and Clarke is exactly that.