Why Leicester City should reignite their interest in Max Clark
Back in June, a report from the Daily Mail had claimed that Leicester City were interested in signing Vitesse Arnhem left-back Max Clark as a replacement for Ben Chilwell. However, the Foxes eventually turned their focus to Timothy Castagne in the summer following the departure of their star academy graduate to Chelsea.
Profile
Max Clark joined Hull City’s youth system back in 2006 and was promoted to the development squad after he signed a professional deal with the Tigers. The left-back spent time on loan at Cambridge United in League Two for a couple of seasons between 2015 and 2017, registering 44 appearances in all competitions.
The 24-year-old benefitted from Hull City’s relegation from the Premier League and established himself as a first-team player for the Tigers in the Championship during the 2017-18 campaign, featuring 30 times. Clark then departed his boyhood club on a free transfer to join Vitesse Dutch outfit Arnhem back in the summer of 2018.
The former England U-17 international has since established himself as one of the best attacking full-backs in the Eredivisie. Clark has registered a total of 3 goals and 7 assists in 57 appearances for Vitesse in all competitions so far.
Clark would be a good long-term signing for Leicester
Leicester City roped in Belgian international Timothy Castagne from Atalanta to cope with the sale of Ben Chilwell to Chelsea in the summer. The former Genk star has enjoyed a positive start to life in the Premier League, registering a goal and 2 assists in 5 appearances so far.
Brendan Rodgers has utilised Castagne in his preferred right-back role due to the injury to Ricardo Pereira, with James Justin filling in on the other side of the backline. The Belgian, who is equally comfortable playing on the left, is likely to switch roles when Pereira returns to full fitness later on in the campaign.
That would leave Rodgers with Justin and Christian Fuchs as the two back-ups but with the latter already 34 and nearing the end of his contract in 2021, Leicester should target another specialist left-back. And reigniting interest in Max Clark could be a smart idea when the transfer window reopens in January.
Clark has progressed by leaps and bounds in the Eredivisie over the past two years following an impressive breakthrough season at Hull City in the Championship. As evident from his heat map last term, the Vitesse star excels with his work rate and contributes equally at both ends of the pitch. Those qualities should make him an ideal fit for Rodgers’ attacking philosophy.
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Verdict
Leicester aren’t really crying out for a new left-back following the acquisition of Castagne but a potential departure for Fuchs in the near future would certainly deal a huge blow to their squad depth. The Foxes need to ensure that they are well-stocked in all departments given their lofty ambitions of going toe-to-toe with the elite clubs in English football.
The ex-Hull City man looks ready to test his credentials in the Premier League and still has his best years ahead of him at 24. With that in mind, Leicester going back in the market for Max Clark in January would hand a boost to their long-term plans moving forward.
