Scouting Aston Villa transfer target Leon Clarke
By Josh Tonti
Reports indicate 32-year old Sheffield United forward Leon Clarke tops Steve Bruce’s January wishlist. Will Aston Villa pry the current EFL Championship’s leading goalscorer away from a promotion rival? How much value does the Blades’ veteran have?
Leon Clarke is an interesting fella with an even more interesting career. One look at his Wikipedia page reveals the forward’s journeyman-like travels through a myriad of loan moves. By my count, Clarke has played for seventeen different English clubs dating back to his professional football beginnings in 2003.
Back then, Clarke was an 18-year old looking to break through Wolverhampton’s doomed Premier League squad in 2003-2004. That season’s relegation streamlined Clarke into a starting role with Wolves in the EFL Championship the following year. His age 19 season brought 31 appearances across all competitions with eight goals. A more disappointing 2005-2006, at least statistically, marked the beginning of a loan carousel over the next decade that started with Queens Park Rangers, and cycled through Plymouth Argyle, Oldham Athletic, Southend United, Preston North End, Chesterfield, Crawley Town, Scunthorpe United, Coventry City, and Wigan Athletic.
An eventual return to Wolves in 2013 translated to a move to League One’s Bury in 2015-2016. There he pounded 15 league goals in 32 appearances before moving to Sheffield United the following season.
Now, at the age of 32, Leon Clarke is enjoying a career renaissance with third-place Sheffield United. Clarke’s scintillating form (13 goals, 2 assists in 1,323 minutes) has Aston Villa, and more importantly Steve Bruce, interested.
Clarke has eighteen months remaining on his contract – an important qualifier in analyzing any potential deals. It is highly unlikely Blades, who remain very much in the promotion hunt, would deal their leading goalscorer to a rival unless absolutely overwhelmed by an offer. Utilizing his 6’2″ frame, Clarke bullies past central defenders with proactive movement in the box. He famously scored four goals against Hull at the beginning of November:
In comparing Leon Clarke to fellow Villa forwards Jonathan Kodjia and Keinan Davis, as well as Championship striker compatriots Léo Bonatini and Gary Hooper, Clarke doesn’t really standout.
In fact, Clarke rates the lowest in both chances created and pass completion percentage on a per-90 basis. His shot accuracy, 60% rated the highest, possibly alluding as to why the total goals scored is so high.
Villa Verdict:
Pass.
Leon Clarke undoubtedly helps Aston Villa’s thin forward ranks at the moment. However, there are a ton of question marks regarding a potential deal. For one, it would likely take a market overpay to land him from beyond Blades’ clutches. With constricting financial fair play implications, it is questionable whether Aston Villa can even make this sort of deal if it balloons into the £4-6+ million range.
Secondly, is a fresh, three-year deal wise for a player that turns 33 in February, who also happens to be enjoying a career-year? Clarke’s play is one that ages well, but it is still an added risk that must be accounted for.
Next: Aston Villa catching Wolves in table a tall order
Villa executives must also weigh how Clarke would contribute should the club achieve promotion. Is Clarke a Premier League answer at striker? Unless he’s asked to be a third or fourth option for a mid-table club, he is unlikely to have a week-in and week-out impact at the top flight.
Then again, Clarke simply aiding Villa achieve promotion is worth hundreds of millions of pounds over several years, too. Well worth the acquisition cost and wages. The simpler route, however, might be 1-3 loan players to strengthen an injury-riddled fourth-place Aston Villa.