Former Spur believes that Clarke’s return to Leeds United may not go to plan

Tottenham Hotspur completed the signing of Jack Clarke from Leeds United on Monday to ends a spell of over 500 days without recruiting a player.

Clarke signed a four-year deal until 2023 for an initial transfer fee of £8.5 million (Sky Sports).

Part of the deal saw the 18-year-old head back to the Championship side for the upcoming campaign on a season-long loan deal.

Former Tottenham defender Pascal Chimbonda believes that the club could recall the winger earlier than planned from his return to Elland Road.

Clarke only started five games for Leeds last season and will look to be a regular in Marcelo Bielsa’ side next season to gain further first-team football experience.

Chimbonda, who played for Spurs between 2006-2008 believes that the lilywhites should look to give Clarke a baptism of fire by seeing if he is capable of playing at the top level and used Dele Alli as a prime example of a lower league player who managed to make the grade.

He told Sporting Bet: “Tottenham need to throw Clarke into the deep end in the same way they did with Alli. He is guaranteed first team football at Leeds, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Tottenham brought him back before the season ended.

“It’s important that Tottenham see whether he can make it at the top level and the only way to do that is by giving him minutes. He is still young, but Alli was very young when he came to Tottenham and was implemented into the first team very quickly.

“It’s important for Clarke to stand out in the Leeds team this season and play a big role in getting them back into the Premier League. It will be a real judge of character and I’m expecting big things from him.”

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