Leicester’s hopes of snatching £18m winger from Premier League relegation rival Ipswich faces major hurdles

LEICESTER will monitor Jack Clarke’s struggles at Ipswich.

But they face a fight to do a deal for him this season.

The winger, 23, went to the Tractor Boys for £18million from Sunderland in August.

However, he has failed to impress so far at Portman Road.

The Foxes are keen on a transfer but Clarke played for the Black Cats at the start of their Championship term.

That means he is ruled out of playing for a third club this season, unless it is a loan.

And Ipswich are unlikely to help a fellow Premier League relegation-battling side by lending out a player.

Steve Cooper has Stephy Mavididi and Abdul Fatawu as his key, pacey and tricky wingers.

Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Jordan Ayew, Kasey McAteer and Facundo Buenanotte can all operate out wide, too.

But the addition of Clarke could add extra depth to the Leicester attack.

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Clarke came through at Leeds before signing for Tottenham in 2019.

However, he did not make a single Premier League appearance for Spurs and signed for Sunderland in 2022 following a successful loan spell in 2021-22.

Clarke racked up 27 goals in 94 games for the Black Cats – including on the opening day of this season at Cardiff – before his big-money move to Premier League new-boys Ipswich.

However, his start to life in Suffolk has not gone according to plan.

Five of his eight top-flight appearances have come off the bench and he has registered just one assist and zero goals.

In fact, he has not even managed a single shot on target in 335 minutes of football.

His latest blank came in yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Leicester.

Leif Davis’ expert volley put Ipswich in front ten minutes after half-time.

But Kalvin Phillips was sent off on 77 minutes for a second yellow card and Jordan Ayew pounced deep into injury time to rescue a point for the Foxes.

That left Kieran McKenna’s side in the relegation zone and still looking for their first win – while Leicester are 15th, five points from safety.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk