x

Town Set for Windfall as Clarke Edges Closer to Brighton Move - Ipswich Town News

Town look set to receive a significant windfall with former defender Matt Clarke edging closer to a move from Portsmouth to Premier League Brighton and Hove Albion.

Clarke, 22, has been tipped for a switch to the Seagulls for some weeks but now the deal is understood to be near to completion, with Football Insider reporting that the clubs are close to agreeing a fee of £3.9 million.

Town are understood to be due 20 per cent of the profit Pompey make on Clarke, who is believed to have been valued at £50,000 when he joined them as a makeweight in the £750,000 deal which saw Adam Webster sign for the Blues in the summer of 2016.

That would see Town receive £770,000 at a time when the club is facing a £9 million loss of revenue due to relegation to League One.

Given the overall drop in income, the Clarke windfall is unlikely to see a change in the club’s transfer policy, which is all but certain to be based solely on Bosman free signings this summer.

Barham-born Clarke came through the academy and made one start and four sub appearances for the Blues before signing for Portsmouth, with whom he spent 2015/16 on loan.

Town could also receive further financial boosts via sell-ons this summer with Webster, currently with Bristol City, understood to be interesting Aston Villa, Leicester and Southampton and with a valuation of £12 million having been reported.

Webster, 24, joined the Robins from Town for an initial £3.5 million last summer with the fee potentially rising to £8 million.

The Blues are likely to have a sell-on of 10 per cent included in that deal which, depending on how many top-ups have been paid already, could bring in up to £850,000, although Portsmouth would be due 20 per cent of anything the Blues receive as a result of their sell-on from the 2016 move.

Meanwhile former left-back Tyrone Mings is expected to move on from AFC Bournemouth with his former loan club Aston Villa the favourites to sign him with a fee of £15 million - potentially yielding Town up to another £700,000 via a 10-per-cent-of-profit sell-on - having been widely reported.

Ex-striker Kieffer Moore, now with Barnsley, is also believed to be interesting Bristol City with a 10-per-cent-of-profit sell-on also understood to have been part of the deal which saw the 26-year-old move to Oakwell for £750,000 in January 2018.

What to read next:

U17s Beaten By Hammers
Town’s youngsters were beaten 4-0 by West Ham United in their opening U17 Premier League Cup game at Playford Road this afternoon.
[Podcast] The Naked Football Show - Listen Again
This week's Naked Football Show is now available online.
Akpom: Ajax and Lille Spells Made Me a Better Player
Town forward Chuba Akpom believes he has returned to England a better player following two years at Ajax and Lille.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Four in Championship Team of the Week
Four Town players have been named in the Championship Team of the Week following the 5-0 thumping of Sheffield United on Friday.
Ipswich Town Women 0-1 Nottingham Forest Women - Match Report
Ipswich Town Women remain without a win so far this season after losing 1-0 to fellow newly promoted side Nottingham Forest in their first outing at their new home, Colchester United’s JobServe Community Stadium.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Blades Sack Selles Following Town Thrashing
Sheffield United have sacked manager Ruben Selles following Friday’s 5-0 thrashing by the Blues at Portman Road.
On-Loan Slicker Saves Two Penalties
Town keeper Cieran Slicker saved two penalties to help his loan side Barnet to a 2-1 victory away against Crewe Alexandra in League Two this afternoon.
U18s Hammered at Palace
Town’s U18s fell to an 8-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at the Eagles’ Copers Cope training ground this morning.