Ipswich Town winger Jack Clarke is the club’s top scorer this season, yet he has only started half of the games this term.
Ipswich Town secured an immediate return to the Premier League after finishing second in the Championship table. ITFC were pushed all the way in the battle for the automatic promotion places, but they will join Coventry City in the top flight next season.
Despite the strength of the Tractor Boys’ squad and the faith placed in Kieran McKenna, further additions are expected this summer. New signings are likely to arrive at Portman Road, while some members of the promotion-winning squad could move on.
One of those players who could move on may be top-scorer Jack Clarke. Clarke has already been linked with a move to Sheffield United this summer, who were looking for a deal to bring him in last January.
Clarke has scored 16 goals this term for Ipswich Town, four goals clear of Jaden Philogene below him. However, despite that Philogene has been favoured by McKenna overall, and it likely means that gametime could be an issue for Clarke in the Premier League again.
At this stage of his career, Clarke will want to be a regular starter. However, that may not be the case with Ipswich Town back in the top-flight.
Clarke’s Premier League frustrations
Clarke endured a frustrating season in the Premier League after joining Ipswich Town from Sunderland in the summer of 2024. Expectations were high after his standout Championship form, but adapting to top-flight football proved difficult.
One of Clarke’s biggest frustrations was a lack of rhythm and consistency throughout the campaign. He drifted in and out of the starting XI under McKenna and struggled to make a lasting impact.
Tactically, Clarke often looked restricted in a side battle near the bottom of the table. At Sunderland, he thrived with freedom to attack defenders directly, but Ipswich’s setup demanded far greater defensive discipline as they battled for survival in the top-flight.
His attacking numbers also dropped significantly compared to his final season in the Championship. After registering 15 league goals for Sunderland in 2023/24, goals and assists were far harder to come by in the Premier League.
As the season progressed, supporter opinion became increasingly divided over his performances. Some fans felt he simply needed time to adjust to the level, while others questioned whether the Premier League move had come too soon.
Jack Clarke’s Championship stats
| Games | Goals | Assists |
| 176 | 43 | 23 |
Ipswich Town’s stance on a potential departure for Clarke
If Clarke does want to move on from ITFC this summer, he may need to do some convincing. The East Anglian Daily Times have reported that Ipswich Town are keen to keep Clarke.
They have said the chances of Ipswich Town sanctioning an exit for Clarke are ‘incredibly slim’, and they believe it would take a Championship record fee to secure his services.
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