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Maybe He’ll Not Go?

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A few weeks ago, in the wake of another exceptional season, which saw Matt Clarke win countless awards, including the big ones, Player and Players’ Player of the Year, it looked a dead cert the defender would leave Pompey?

Personally, I was quite convinced Clarke had played his last game for the club. However, Kenny Jackett has said he “wants to build a side around Clarke.”

Great to hear and in an ideal world who wouldn’t want this? A young, talented footballer who is very much in the mould of a modern era defender, Clarke has all the ability in the world and can bring the ball out from the back to add an attacking threat. So, he’s a manager’s dream.

Jackett is right to be keen on building a side around Clarke, but other clubs would fancy this too. Positively though they have been warned only an “astronomical offer” would tempt us into selling, which isn’t something we’re are under any pressure to do.

Yes, it was an up and down season in many ways, but I do feel Pompey are on the up. At a club where he’s very much a focal point, Clarke could do far worse than giving it another season or two at Fratton Park.

Clarke does have Premier League potential; he would easily make the step up to the Championship, which can hopefully be with us?

Ok, we say there’s no pressure to sell and the intention is to retain the under-contract defender, but at the end of the day, it depends on what Clarke wants? If he makes it clear he wants to go we’ll find it hard to keep him…

PLAY UP POMPEY

Follow @VitalPortsmouth.

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