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Webster-Clarke Deal Set to Be Confirmed Early Next Week
Friday, 27th May 2016 12:13

The deal which will see Portsmouth’s Adam Webster join Town and Matt Clarke and a significant fee move in the opposite direction is now set to be confirmed early next week, TWTD understands.

The deal, which TWTD first reported more than a week ago, is essentially done but with some minor paperwork relating to the switch still currently outstanding. That is likely to be completed early next week with the clubs expected to announce the signings on Tuesday, with Monday a bank holiday.

We also understand the fee that the Blues will pay Pompey - in addition to 19-year-old Clarke moving to Fratton Park - is significantly higher than the £500,000 previously reported.

It will be the highest fee Town have spent since Mick McCarthy took over as Town boss in November 2012, eclipsing the £350,000 paid to Danish side Esbjerg fB for left-back Jonas Knudsen last summer.

Webster, a 21-year-old right-sided centre-half or full-back who McCarthy initially tried to sign in January, joined Portsmouth aged 12 and came through the ranks at Fratton Park, making his senior debut as a 17-year-old in January 2012 during their time in the Championship in a 1-0 home defeat to West Ham.

The 6ft 3in tall ball-playing defender spent 2013/14 on loan at Aldershot, making 24 starts for the Vanarama National League side.

Webster, from West Wittering near Chichester, made 60 starts and 21 sub appearances for Portsmouth, scoring five goals, and has been capped by England at U18 and U19 levels.

Barham-born Clarke spent the whole of 2015/16 on loan at Pompey, making 30 starts and three sub appearances, scoring once.

The central defender or midfielder came through Town’s academy and made one Capital One Cup start and four Championship sub appearances for the Blues.


Photo: Action Images



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iaintaylorx added 12:31 - May 27
I do wish that you decides to keep Clarke as he does show alot of potential! However, this is getting me excited the more i read about this lad.

Next, tie down Smith to another deal please!
1

unknown100 added 12:45 - May 27
Im surprised to see Clarke go as well but Mick is the one who has seen him the most and clearly doesnt think letting him go is a problem, Jack Marriott was meant to be our saviour and next Jordan Rhodes and where is he now? Hopefully we get a quality centre back and this is the beginning of quality signings, youth and the likes of bishop, mcgoldrick ect stepping up, i feel next year could be the one, most promising for a few years now, if we could get a really QUALITY centre forward then I think we could, you need a 20 plus goalscorer
3

Mr_Evans added 12:50 - May 27
A good deal for both clubs. Be interesting to see how or where Mick decides to play him.
Our defence has been our biggest liability for some time, we conceded a hell of a lot of goals for a 'defensive team'. I think a RB and a pacey winger is all we need now, plus 2 or 3 young promising players like the at Southend.
I think if the likes of Feeney and Foley sign, that then gives us good cover and competition for places on MF with Bishop, Bru, Skuse, McConnell, Duglous, Hyam and Dozell. We then still have Benyu and Monty Paterson too. Ryan Fraser on loan again would be the cherry on the top!! Although I doubt Bournemouth will let him go.
I also think up top is strong asking as they stay fit. Sears and Pitman, with Murphy and McGoldrick hopefully.
0

Mr_Evans added 12:55 - May 27
Unknown100 -
And what 20+ goal scorer shall we buy then? It's not as simple as that. In reality McGoldrick and Sears and Murphy are capable of scoring 10-15 goals each, and Pitman is capable for getting 6-10.
It's our defence that lets us down. We conceeded more goals than any other team in the top 10 last season.

FYI - Marriott scored 16 goals last year and won every 'player of the season' awards going at Luton. I suspect he'll do very well next year.
5

Warkys_Tash added 12:56 - May 27
@TWTD Phil

Do you know if Webster worn the number 15 shirt & played CB against us in the FA Cup?
0

PhilTWTD added 13:02 - May 27
Played against us in both games but wore number four. Adam Barton was number 15.

http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2049&teamTabs=results
1

Warkys_Tash added 13:11 - May 27
Yes, just searched and found that. Adam Barton was a makeshift defender, perhaps why he played the ball out from the back so well as he is actually a midfielder.

Well that's disappointing then! Can't remember Webster, is he any good in your opinion?
0

DanLyles added 13:14 - May 27
Looks very promising, he got voted in the top 15 players in League Two, voted for by managers in the league. Seems strange that he wasn't in the team of the season. http://www.football-league.co.uk/news/article/2016/top-15-sky-bet-football-leagu

Lots of very talented players in that list. Everybody's heard of Roofe, who is likey to command a decent fee, but his team mate Lundstram looks a very good prospect. Ball playing central midfielder who strings passes together. How we have missed a player of that ilk. Came through the ranks at Everton and played for most of the England youth teams. Moyes had him on the bench but lost his way when Martinez was appointed. Just a thought.
1

spanishblue added 13:22 - May 27
Whilst i totally agree that Fraser is an extremely exciting footballer is nobody bothered about he amount of time he was injured last year 3-4 months for a hamstring ?
1

BlueandTruesince82 added 13:41 - May 27
I think Clarke is simply make wait, a necessary sacrifice to make the deal happen. Pompey are losing a highly regarded defender and so having an almost ready made replacement sweetens the deal.

From Towns POV it reduces the required cash outlay and leave that available for what I hope will be more additions
6

onthehoof added 13:57 - May 27
I wonder whether we should just pay the money for webster and keep clark. Surely we can afford that.
2

BlueandTruesince82 added 14:26 - May 27
*weight.

Oops lol
0

corfu72 added 14:45 - May 27
Looks to be a very good signing.MM must rate him to let Clarke go the other way.!And cash as well.Wonder if Berra is on his way. Let's hope Smith ties up his contract soon.Now for the midfield and cover up front.!!If we are in for Moncur it will cost us a fair bit as Colchester have reportedly put a high price on his head.The coming weeks will be very interesting for all of us.Lets just hope so.
3

JohnyJohnson added 15:01 - May 27
2 words that excite me "ball- playing"
3

BlueMachines added 15:25 - May 27
Mr_Evans

I would argue that our midfield has been our biggest liability in recent times.

Unknown 100 - I don't think McGoldrick needs to 'step-up' does he!
1

runningout added 15:26 - May 27
what ever you do... don't get too excited Yet... surely you know by now
3

unknown100 added 15:40 - May 27
Bluemachine- I didn't mean step up like they weren't already performing, I meant just be key figures for the younger players and new signing. Build the team around them
1

MattinLondon added 15:46 - May 27
Isn't George Moncur a central midfielder? What with so many young central midfielders coming through - Benyu, McDonnell, Bishop and Dozzell - as well as Skuse, Hyam, Douglas Bru and Coke. I doubt if any central midfielders like Moncur will be coming to us.

Saying that I think its pretty nailed on that Coke will be leaving and I wouldnt be surprised if Bru will be put on the trasfer list as well.
0

ElderGrizzly added 15:52 - May 27
Unknown100 - we don't need a 20 goal striker.

Middlesbrough went up with their top scorer on 8 league goals (Nugent). The key is having other players scoring more, not relying on one player to score 20.
6

jas0999 added 16:35 - May 27
Good news, but I do feel we need to spend some cash on the midfield. We need goals from the centre of midfield in order to support the strikers.
2

Dolly2.0 added 16:53 - May 27
unknown100 - who described Marriot as "our saviour and the next Jordan Rhodes"?

Was it no-one, ever?
0

RoyalAscotBlue added 18:01 - May 27
Says it all really, the fact that Mick's highest fees paid are for defenders. Still, this IS a positive signing. (unless of course he doesn't play, and then leaves cos he's homesick 5 months later ;)
2

Pip50 added 18:39 - May 27
The delay is probably that he can't complete the cross bar challenge from our own half. He will need this skill to follow MM tactics. What's the point of signing anyone with this tw@t in charge.
0

SheptonMalletBlue added 19:20 - May 27
Sorry, but I don't see the point or all the hype of this signing, while Mcarthy is in charge it doesn't matter who we sign!!!!
1

big_gaz67 added 19:32 - May 27
Kelvin Davies has been released by Southampton. We should get him in on a player/coach deal and oust Gherken and Malcolm Webster. Malcolm Webster has proved from Richard Wright onwards he his unable to train a keeper to confidently catch a cross and Davies would be a brilliant addition to the ITFC set up.
2


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