KEY POINTS

  • West Brom eyes Matt Clarke of Brighton to shore up the defensive line
  • Critics question if Clarke can improve the club's campaign
  • Ismael is confident that they can find the right players this summer

West Brom knows that they need defensive help, and it appears one target they have in mind is Matt Clarke.

The Baggies are reportedly in advance talks with the Seagulls and are leading the race.

West Brom’s new boss Valerien Ismael is determined to build a competitive squad, and Clarke is seen as a key piece.

Before them, it was Sheffield United that loomed as a viable option for the 24-year-old player.

But to get the deal done, the Baggies will need to fork out £4.9 million ($6.8 million) required to get Clarke.

The English player arrived at The Amex from Portsmouth for £3.9 million ($5.4 million) in 2019.

A deal would make sense, with Brighton looking to make a profit. Considering Clarke spent the last two seasons on loan to Derby County and his contract running out in 2023, he is likely to end up leaving Falmer Stadium without getting a chance to play as part of the first team.

His impending departure comes not long after the exit of other players like Ben White, who has also been linked to a possible move out of Brighton.

Looking ahead, some wonder if Clarke could be the guy to hone up the defense of West Brom.

The Baggies' back-line has been underwhelming. Proof of that is the club conceding 76 goals last season, a reason why they were relegated from the English Premier League.

A good assessment of what Clarke brings would be his performance with the Rams last season. He made 81 appearances and accounted for a single goal.

He was one of the bright spots for Derby County, helping the team avoid relegation on the final day of the season. That game was a draw against Sheffield United, 3-3.

Jacob Brown of Stoke City and Matthew Clarke of Derby County
Jacob Brown of Stoke City and Matthew Clarke of Derby County Getty Images | Joe Prior/Visionhaus

As far as West Brom is concerned, Ismael expects some players to leave the Hawthorns. That includes the club’s two best players–Sam Johnstone and Matheus Pereira.

Despite that looming scenario, the new West Brom is unfazed. He believes that with the right players, the team will find a solution for the team to keep its campaign afloat.

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