Why Tottenham should move for Bobby Clark as a long-term prospect

According to the Daily Mail, Tottenham Hotspur have joined the race to sign Newcastle United prodigy Bobby Clarke, who is the son of former Magpies star Lee Clarke.

The 14-year-old, who is rated by Newcastle manager Steve Bruce as the club’s best schoolboy prospect, has also attracted interest from Man United, Man City and Chelsea, while Bavarian giants Bayern Munich are also sniffing around like sharks to prise the teenager away from his homeland. (h/t Daily Mail)

Spurs, though, have emerged as the frontrunners in the race to sign Bobby Clarke and the North London giants could look to capitalise if the 14-year-old opts to further his development away from Tyneside, the Daily Mail claims.

Image result for tottenham corner flag" — Tottenham are set for a new era under the stewardship of Jose Mourinho (Getty Images)

Bobby Clarke entered Newcastle’s history books this season when he made his debut for the U-18 side aged just 14 years and 206 days and the teenage prodigy is in line to make his bow for England U-15s when they lock horns with the Republic of Ireland and Turkey next month.

The 14-year-old is too young to sign a professional contract with the Magpies, meaning that they would be powerless to prevent him from departing should any of the potential suitors come knocking on the door for his services.

Clarke is held in high regard by the youth coaching staff as a prodigious talent with the potential to push on and ply his trade at the highest level in the years to come.

That he is already rubbing shoulders with players above his age-group in the U-18s is indicative of a level of maturity that belies his tender years and early signs suggest that he could go on to have a big future in the game.

Image result for lee clark newcastle" — Bobby’s father Lee Clark played for Newcastle United in the Premier League (Getty Images)

To put things into perspective, Bobby Clarke is still very much in the rudiments of his formative years as a footballer but he looks like a real talent and Tottenham could possibly have a gem on their hands if he goes to fulfil his promise in the years to come.

Verdict

Despite Mauricio Pochettino finally receiving the marching orders following a woeful start to the season and the club hierarchy putting their trust in Jose Mourinho as the new face at the helm of affairs, the Lilywhites have to continue with their policy of transforming up and coming prospects into top-quality professionals in order to keep moving in the right direction.

To that end, the club’s interest in a hot emerging homegrown talent like Bobby Clark certainly strikes the right chords and the fans will be aware of the solid base that has been built by the rise of Harry Kane and Dele Alli, both of whom were little known teenagers five or six years back.

Image result for steve bruce newcastle" — Steve Bruce rates Bobby Clark as Newcastle’s best schoolboy prospect (Getty Images)

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In Troy Parrott, Oliver Skipp, Juan Foyth, Kyle Walker-Peters and several others, Spurs already have some exciting young talent in their ranks and Clarke, though still only 14, would certainly add some much-needed quality and competition to the club’s youth sides.