Leeds United have confirmed that Tottenham Hotspur will recall winger Jack Clarke ahead of the January transfer window.
Spurs bought the 19-year-old in the summer - their first signing in over 500 days - from boyhood club Leeds, and loaned him back to Marcelo Bielsa's side for the 2019/20 season.
However, a peculiar situation has meant that Clarke struggled for game time back at Elland Road. Championship sides can only name five loanees in a matchday squad, and Bielsa has often opted to use Ilian Meslier, Ben White, Eddie Nketiah, Helder Costa and Jack Harrison instead.
Clarke's youth and relative inexperience saw him drop to the bottom of Bielsa's list of loanees, and Leeds likely saw developing him as a waste of their time now that he belongs to Tottenham.
Leeds chief executive Angus Kinnear confirmed in his matchday programme notes ahead of their clash with Preston North End that Clarke would be returning to north London.
"We thank Jack Clarke for his services and wish him the best of luck in his career as Spurs have confirmed, due to lack of playing time, he will be recalled in the January window," Kinnear wrote, as quoted by the Evening Standard.
Clarke joined Spurs likely under the premise that he would one day be working under the tutelage of Mauricio Pochettino, and returns to the club after a turbulent first half of the season at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Jose Mourinho now the man in charge.
Elsewhere at Leeds, another loanee could be making the journey back to north London ahead of the transfer window, with the future of Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah looking uncertain.
Kinnear added that the club believe in his abilities and hope that he will stay until the end of the season.
"I appreciate much speculation still surrounds the immediate future of Eddie Nketiah and although Arsenal have the right to recall him in January, we still believe he can make a huge impact over the remainder of the season at Leeds United," he added.
"Accordingly, we are endeavouring to convince Eddie and the technical team at Arsenal that the coaching environment and profile of the playing opportunity at Thorp Arch and Elland Road is still the best choice for his long-term development."
Source : 90min