Former Newcastle United midfielder Lee Clark has stated that his highly-rated son Bobby will not be leaving the Magpies, amid rumoured interest from some of the Premier League’s top-six sides.
First-team boss Steve Bruce sees Clark as our most promising schoolboy prospect at present, and has been touted as a potential target for Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Man City and Chelsea along with Bayern Munich over the past few months.
Spurs were said to have moved into the box seat to land the 14-year-old’s signature if he were to chase a move away from Tyneside, as concerns had been raised over the infrastructure in the academy set-up at United.
But Clark, who made history by debuting for the U18s at just 14 earlier this season, would prefer to remain at the club, and his father is more than happy to see his son continue progressing here.
“All the reports about my son Bobby are purely speculation,” Clark wrote in his column for Tribal Football.
“We are a very, very proud family that he has been selected to represent England against the Republic of Ireland and Turkey. It’s a great feat, so we’re extremely proud. He’s getting coached very well at Newcastle’s academy. Everyone who is there and the various different teams he plays in are terrific.
“Ben Dawson, the Head of Coaching, I have a good relationship with and I have regular contact with him and talk about how Bobby is getting on. And I let them guys get on with coaching him and looking after him. They are doing a terrific job.”
Will Clark make it into the first-team?
Yes
No
Lee Clark made 134 appearances for United over two spells in the first-team, after emerging from our academy in 1993, leaving for Sunderland in ’96 and returning for a final season in 2005/06 before hanging up his boots.
The uncapped former England international, named on the bench against Brazil in 1997, is the current Blyth Spartans manager having taken charge in July and has led the National League North side to three wins in 19 games thus far this season.
In other Newcastle United news, a 22-cap international would be open to securing a permanent transfer to St. James’ Park in January.